IvIBRARV 

OK   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


GIF^T  OK 


ft.  I, 


or  i  uU.  School 


Accession 


85449 


Class 


•tate  0f  glfeo&e 


Lif  S  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION. 


COMPILED  BY 

THOMAS    B.   STOCKWELL, 

COMMISSIONER  OF   PUBLIC   SCHOOLS 


PBOVIDENCE,  E.  I. 

E.   L.   FREEMAN  &  SONS,  PRINTEES  TO   THE  STATE. 
1900. 


of      xoxie 


I HW?  Ptf 

LAWo   U 


COMPILED    BY 


THOMAS    B.   STOCKWELL, 


COMMISSIONER   OF   PUBLIC   SCHOOLS. 


PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 

E.   L.   FREEMAN  &  SONS,  PRINTERS  TO  THE  STATE. 
1900. 


EXTRACTS 


FKOM   THE 


Constitution  of  Utoode  Island 


ARTICLE  I. 

DECLARATION  OF  RIGHTS. 
SECTION 

2.  Object  of  government.— How  laws 

should  be  made  and  burdens  dis- 
tributed. 

3.  Religious  freedom  secured. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

QUALIFICATIONS  FOR  OFFICE. 
SECTION 
1.    Qualified  electors  only  eligible. 


ARTICLE  XII. 
EDUCATION. 


SECTION 


1.  Duty  of  general  assembly  to  pro- 

mote public  schools,  etc. 

2.  The  permanent  public  school  fund. 

3.  Donations   for   support   of    public 

schools. 

4.  Powers  of  general  assembly  under 

this  article. 


PREAMBLE. 


WE,  the  people  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  and  Provi-  preamble, 
dence  Plantations,  grateful  to  Almighty  God  for  the  civil  and 
religious  liberty  which  He  hath  so  long  permitted  us  to 
enjoy,  and  looking  to  Him  for  a  blessing  upon  our  endeavors 
to  secure  and  to  transmit  the  same  unimpaired  to  succeeding 
generations,  do  ordain  and  establish  this  constitution  of 
government. 

ARTICLE  I. 

Declaration  of  Certain  Constitutional  Rights  and  Principles. 

In  order  effectually  to  secure  the  religious  and  political  Declaration, 
freedom  established  by  our  venerated  ancestors,  and  to  pre- 


85449 


4  LAWS   PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION. 

Reohie°tothe      serve  the  same  for  our  posterity,  we  do  declare  that  the 

2teretheir         essential  and  unquestionable  rights  and  principles  hereinafter 

mentioned  shall  be  established,  maintained  and  preserved , 

and  shall  be  of  paramount  obligation  in  all  legislative,  judicial 

and  executive  proceedings. 

objects  of  free       SECTION  2.    All  free  governments  are  instituted  for  the 

governments. 

should^8  protection,  safety  and  happiness  of  the  people.  All  laws, 
therefore,  should  be  made  for  the  good  of  the  whole ;  and 
the  burdens  of  the  state  ought  to  be  fairly  distributed 
among  its  citizens. 

Religious  SEC.  3.     Whereas  Almighty  God  hath  created  the  mind 

freedom 

free ;  and  all  attempts  to  influence  it  by  temporal  punishments 
or  burdens,  or  by  civil  incapacitations,  tend  to  beget  habits 
of  hypocrisy  and  meanness ;  and  whereas  a  principal  object 
of  our  venerable  ancestors,  in  their  migration  to  this  country 
and  their  settlement  of  this  state,  was,  as  they  expressed  it, 
to  hold  forth  a  lively  experiment,  that  a  flourishing  civil 
state  may  stand  and  be  best  maintained  with  full  liberty  in 
religious  concernments :  we,  therefore,  declare  that  no  man 
shall  be  compelled  to  frequent  or  to  support  any  religious 
worship,  place,  or  ministry  whatever,  except  in  fulfillment  of 
his  own  voluntary  contract ;  nor  enforced,  restrained,  mo- 
lested, or  burdened  in  his  body  or  goods;  nor  disqualified 
from  holding  any  office ;  nor  otherwise  suffer  on  account  of 
his  religious  belief;  and  that  every  man  shall  be  free  to 
worship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience, 
and  to  profess  and  by  argument  to  maintain  his  opinion  in 
matters  of  religion ;  and  that  the  same  shall  in  no  wise  di- 
minish, enlarge,  or  affect  his  civil  capacity. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

Of  Qualifications  for  Office. 
SECTION  1.    No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  any  civil  office, 


AND. 


EXTRACTS   FROM  THE   CONSTITUTION   OF   RHODE  ISL 

(except  the  office  of  school  committee),  unless  he  be  a  quali-      eosoni 
fied  elector  for  such  office.  edible. 

ARTICLE  XII. 

Of  Education. 
SECTION  1.    The  diffusion  of  knowledge,  as  well  as  of  virtue,  Duty  of  the 

'    general  as- 

among  the  people,  being  essential  to  the  preservation  of  their  mSe^ubiFo0" 
rights  and  liberties,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  general  as-  lducarton.d 
sembly  to  promote  public  schools,  and  to  adopt  all  means 
which  they  may  deem  necessary  and  proper  to  secure  to  the 
people  the  advantages  and  opportunities  of  education. 

SEC.  2.     The  money  which  now  is  or  which  may  hereafter  The  permanent 

public  school 

be  appropriated  by  law  for  the  establishment  of  a  permanent   fund- 
fund  for  the  support  of  public  schools,  shall  be  securely  in- 
vested, and  remain  a  perpetual  fund  for  that  purpose. 

SEC.  3.     All  donations  for  the  support  of  public  schools,   Donations  for 

support  of 

or  for  other  purposes  of  education,  which  may  be  received   Publio  schools. 
by  the  general  assembly,  shall  be  applied  according  to  the 
terms  prescribed  by  the  donors. 

SEC.  4.     The  general  assembly  shall  make  all  necessary  Power  of  the 
provisions  by  law  for  carrying  this  article  into  effect.     They  assembly  under 

this  3/rt/icl6. 

shall  not  divert  said  money  or  fund  from  the  aforesaid  uses, 
nor  borrow,  appropriate,  or  use  the  same,  or  any  part  thereof, 
for  any  other  purpose,  under  any  pretence  whatsoever. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  GENERAL  LAWS 


State  of  iUiocle  gshtml 


PERTAINING   TO 


lEIDTJO-A-TIOItT 


Classification 
of  voters  as 
registered  and 
unregistered. 


Registered 
voters,  includ- 
ing personal 
property 
voters. 


CHAPTER  6. 

Of  the  Rights  and  Qualifications  of  Voters. 


SECTION 

\.  Classification  of  voters  as  regis- 
tered and  unregistered,  and  their 
rights  to  vote. 


SECTION 

2.  Right  to  vote  on  real  estate,  sit- 
uated in  town  other  than  that  in 
which  voter  resides. 


SECTION  1.  The  two  following  classes  of  persons  have,  by 
the  constitution,  the  first  as  registered  and  the  second  as  un- 
registered voters,  a  right  to  vote  in  the  election  of  all  civil 
officers,  and  on  all  questions  in  all  legally  organized  town, 
ward  or  district  meetings  : — 

First,  Every  male  citizen  of  the  United  States,  of  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years,  who  has  had  his  residence  and  home  in 
this  state  for  two  years,  and  in  the  town  or  city,  in  which  he 
may  offer  to  vote,  six  months  next  preceding  the  time  of  his 
voting,  and  whose  name  shall  be  registered,  in  the  town  or 


Chap.  6.]        BIGHTS  AND   QUALIFICATIONS   OF  VOTERS. 

city  where  he  resides,  on  or  before  the  last  day  of  December 
in  the  year  next  preceding"  the  time  of  his  voting:  Provided, 
that  no  person  shall  at  any  time  be  allowed  to  vote  in  the 
election  of  the  city  council  of  any  city,  or  upon  any  proposi- 
tion to  impose  a  tax  or  for  the  expenditure  of  money  in  any 
town  or  city,  unless  he  shall  within  the  year  next  preceding 
have  paid  a  tax  assessed  upon  his  property  therein,  valued  at 
least  at  one  hundred  and  thirty -four  dollars. 

Second,  Every  male  citizen  of  the  United  States,  of  the  age  unregistered, 

.or  real  estate 

of  twenty-one  years,  who  has  had  his  residence  and  home  in  voters. 
this  state  for  one  year,  and  in  the  town  or  city,  in  which  he 
may  claim  a  right  to  vote,  six  months  next  preceding  the 
time  of  voting,  and  who  is  really  and  truly  possessed  in  his 
own  right  of  real  estate  in  such  town  or  city  of  the  value  of 
one  hundred  and  thirty-four  dollars  over  and  above  all  in- 
cumbrances,  or  which  shall  rent  for  seven  dollars  per  annum 
over  and  above  any  rent  reserved  or  the  interest  of  any  in- 
cumbrances  thereon,  being  an  estate  in  fee-simple,  fee-tail, 
for  the  life  of  any  person,  or  an  estate  in  reversion  or  re- 
mainder, which  qualifies  no  other  person  to  vote,  the  convey- 
ance of  which  estate,  if  by  deed,  shall  have  been  recorded  at 
least  ninety  days. 

SEC.  2.     The  following  class  of  persons  have,  by  the  con-  persons  en- 
titled to  vote 
stitution,  as  unregistered  voters,  a  right  to  vote  in  the  election  in  a  town  for 

of  all  general  officers  and  members  of  the  general  assembly,  SJJjfSJf0* 
in  the  town  or  city  in  which  they  shall  have  had  their  resi-  anShertown. 
dence  and  home  for  the  term  of  six  months  next  preceding 
the  election : — 

Every  male  citizen  of  the  United  States,  of  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years,  who  has  had  his  residence  and  home  in 
this  state  for  one  year,  and  shall  own  any  such  real  estate 
within  this  state,  but  out  of  the  town  or  city  in  which  he  re- 
sides, as  is  described  in  the  second  clause  of  the  first  section 
of  this  chapter,  and  who  shall  produce  a  certificate  from  the 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION. 


[Chap.  7. 


clerk  of  the  town  or  city  in  which  his  estate  lies,  bearing  date 
within  ten  clays  of  the  time  of  his  voting-,  setting-  forth  that 
such  person  has  a  sufficient  estate  therein  to  qualify  him  as 

a  voter,  and  that  the  deed,  if  any,  has  been  recorded  ninety 

• 
days. 


CHAPTER  7. 


Of  the  Registering,  Listing  and  Returning  Lists  of  Voters, 
and  of  Proof  of  their  Qualification  to    Vote. 


SECTION 

2.  Registry  voters  to  register  them- 

selves annually. 

3.  Names  of  property  taxpayers  to  be 

put  on  voting  list ;   and  annual 
registry  not  required. 
8.    Proof  of  payment  of  taxes. 
12.    Town  clerks,  etc.,  to  furnish  certi- 
fied copies  of  lists  of  voters  on 
demand,  etc. 


SECTION 

13.  Town  clerks  to  give  certified  copies 

of  registration  of  voters  and  other 
records. 

14.  Electors  entitled  to  certified  lists 

of  persons  paying  taxes,  etc.,  and 
penalty  for  refusal  to  furnish 
same. 


Registry 
voters  are  to 
register  them- 
selves 
annually. 


Penalty  for 

false 

certificate. 


Persons  of  a 
foreign  birth  to 
file  proof  of 
citizenship. 


SECTION  2.  Every  person  who  is  or  within  a  year  may  be 
qualified  to  vote,  upon  being  registered,  shall  go  to  the  town 
clerk  of  the  town  in  which  he  resides,  and  shall  annually,  on 
or  before  the  last  day  of  December,  register  his  name,  and 
thereby  certify  to  the  truth  of  the  facts  stated  in  the  appro- 
priate heads  of  such  registry.  Every  person  who  shall 
knowingly  make  any  false  certificate  in  registering  his  name 
in  any  such  registry  book  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  fifty 
dollars,  or  be  imprisoned  not  exceeding  sixty  days  :  Provided, 
that  before  any  person's  name  shall  be  placed  upon  the  voting 
list,  if  such  citizen  shall  be  of  foreign  birth,  he  shall  file 
proof,  at  least  five  days  before  any  meeting  of  the  board  of 
canvassers,  with  the  town  clerk,  that  he  is  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  and  such  proof  shall  be  subject  to  the  ap- 
proval of  the  board  of  canvassers  of  the  town  or  ward  wherein 
such  person  shall  claim  the  right  to  vote. 


Chap.  7.]      REGISTERING  AND   CANVASSING   OF  VOTERS. 

SEC.  3.     The  several  town  and  ward  clerks  shall  annually 
place  upon  the  voting  list  the  names  of  the  several  persons   puTon  voting 
who  have  previously  been  upon  the  voting  list,  according  to   annual  registry 

not  required. 

the  provisions  of  this  chapter,  against  whom  a  property ttax 
to  the  amount  of  one  dollar  or  upwards  shall  have  been 
assessed ;  and  such  persons  need  not  register  their  names 
annually  as  is  required  of  persons  not  paying  a  property  tax. 

SEC.  8.     The  proof  of  the  payment  of  taxes  upon  real  Proof  of  the 

payment  of 

estate  or  personal  property  shall  be  the  certificate  of  the  col-  taxes- 
lector  of  taxes  or  town  treasurer ;  and  the  receipt  or  returns 
of  the  collector  of  taxes  shall  be  sufficient  evidence  for  the 
purpose  of  procuring  the  certificate  of  the  town  treasurer. 
In  case  of  a  school-district  or  highway  tax,  when  by  law  the 
same  may  be  paid,  whether  in  money  or  labor,  to  a  surveyor 
of  highways  or  to  a  district  collector,  the  receipt  of  such 
surveyor  or  district  collector  shall  be  sufficient  evidence  of 
such  payment  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  the  certificate  of 
the  collector  of  taxes  or  of  the  town  treasurer. 

SEC.  12.     Every  town,  ward  or  district  clerk,  upon  pay- 
ment or  tender  of  his  legal  fees,  which  shall  be  the  same  for 
the  ward  and  district  clerks  as  for  the  town  clerks,  shall  fur-  tender  ofTee. 
nish  to  any  one  demanding  the  same  a  certified  copy  of  any 
list  of  voters  whose  votes  have  been  given  in  at  any  election. 

SEC.  13.     Every  town  clerk  shall,  upon  like  payment  or  Also  a  certified 

copy  of  regis- 

tender,  furnish  to  any  person  demanding  the  same  a  certified 


copy  of  any  registration  of  voters,  and  shall  also,  upon  re-  records- 
quest  of  any  person  and  tender  of  legal  fees,  and  without 
any  unreasonable  delay,  examine  the  records  and  certify  to 
the  estate  of  any  person,  and  shall  furnish  copies  of  any  in- 
strument or  writing  which  may  be  on  record  or  in  the  files  of 
his  office. 

SEC.  14.     Every  officer  authorized  to  receive  taxes  shall, 
upon  like  request  and  payment  or  tender,  and  without  un- 


10 


LAWS   PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  25. 


ing  taxes,  up- 
on request 
and  tender  of 
fee  therefor. 


Penalty. 


reasonable  delay,  furnish  to  any  elector  a  certified  list  of 
those  who  have  paid  to  him  state  and  town  taxes,  and  the 
amounts  and  times  of  such  payments ;  and  shall  grant  certifi- 
cates setting  forth  whether  a  certain  person  has  or  has  not 
paid  to  him  such  taxes,  and,  if  paid,  to  what  amount  and  at 
what  time ;  and  every  such  officer  who  shall  refuse  or  un- 
reasonably delay  to  furnish  such  lists  or  certificates,  upon 
payment  or  tender  as  aforesaid,  shall  for  every  such  offence 
be  fined  not  less  than  twenty -five  dollars  nor  more  than  two 
hundred  dollars. 


CHAPTER    25. 


Of  Oaths,  and  by  whom  Administered. 


SECTION 
5.    Form  of  engagement. 

9.  Who  may  administer  oaths  through- 

out the  state. 

10.  Who  may  administer  oaths  within 


SECTION 

their    respective    counties    and 
towns. 

11.    Who  may  administer  oaths  in  con- 
nection with  their  offices. 


certain  offi-  SECTION  5.    Every  person,  except  the  justices  of  the  supreme 

engagementof.  COUrt,  elected  to  office  by  the  general  assembly,  or  by  either 
house  thereof,  or  by  any  town  or  town  council,  or  under  the 
provisions  of  the  law  in  relation  to  public  schools,  or  ap- 
pointed to  office,  civil  or  military,  by  the  governor,  shall, 
before  he  shall  act  therein,  take  the  following  engagement 
before  some  person  authorized  to  administer  oaths,  namely : 
I,  [naming  the  person'],  do  solemnly  swear  (or,  affirm)  that  I 
will  faithfully  and  impartially  discharge  the  duties  of  the 
office  of  [naming  the  office]  according  to  the  best  of  my  abili- 
ties, and  that  I  will  support  the  constitution  and  laws  of  this 
state,  and  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  so  help  me 
God:  [Or:  This  affirmation  I  make  and  give  upon  the  peril 
of  the  penalty  of  perjury]. 


SEC.  9.     The  following  persons  may  administer  oaths  any- 


Chap.  25.]      OATHS,  AND  BY  WHOM  ADMINISTERED.  11 


where  within  the  state  :   The  governor,  lieutenant-governor,   oaths,  who 

may  ad- 

secretary  of  state,  attorney-general,  assistant  attorney  -gen- 


eral,  general  treasurer,  justices  of  the  supreme  court,  speaker  thestate- 
of  the  house  of  representatives,  commissioners  appointed  by 
other  states  to  take  acknowledgments  of  deeds  and  deposi- 
tions within  this  state,  notaries  public,  the  railroad  commis- 
sioner, the  insurance  commissioner,  and  the  commissioners  of 
shell  fisheries. 

SEC.    10.     The   following   persons   may   administer   oaths  who,  within 

**    L  their  respec- 

within  the  respective  counties  and  towns  for  which  they  may  ^|  ^^ng168 
be  elected  to  office  :  Clerks  of  courts,  state  senators,  justices 
and  assistant  justices  of  the  district  courts,  justices  of  the 
peace,  mayors  of  cities,  judges  of  probate,  presidents  of  town 
councils,  or  persons  acting  as  such,  town  clerks  and  town 
wardens. 

SEC.  11.     The  following  persons  may  administer  oaths  in  who,  in  mat- 

ters connected 
relation  to  all  matters  connected  with,  or  in  administering   with  their 

'    offices. 

the  duties  of,  their  respective  offices:  The  school  commis- 
sioner, foreman  of  grand  juries,  members  of  committees  of 
either  house  of  the  general  assembly  or  of  joint  committees 
thereof,  chairmen  of  committees  of  either  board  of  a  city 
council  or  of  joint  committees  thereof,  members  of  town 
councils,  auditors,  referees,  masters  in  chancery,  clerks  of 
school  districts,  commissioners  on  insolvent  estates,  members 
of  the  board  of  state  charities  and  corrections,  coroners, 
deputy-coroners,  assessors  of  taxes,  the  presiding  officer  of 
the  state  board  of  pharmacy,  general  and  field  officers,  judge 
advocate-general  and  brigade  judge-advocate. 


12 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  26. 


CHAPTER  26. 


Of  the  Construction  of  Statutes. 


SECTION 

1.  Rules  of  construction,  when  to  be 

applied. 

2.  Genders. 

3.  Numbers. 

4.  Joint  authority  of   three  or  more 

authorizes  a  majority. 

5.  "Person." 

6.  "Insane  person." 

7.  "United  States." 

8.  "Town,"   "town  council,"   "town 

clerk,"    "ward    clerk,"    "town 
treasurer,"  "town  sergeant." 

9.  "  Land  ""W  "  lands,"  "  real  estate." 


SECTION 

10.  "Oath,"  "sworn,"  "engaged." 

11.  "Month,"  "year." 

12.  Computation  of  time. 

13.  "Justice  of  the  peace,"  "district 

court." 

14.  "Seal." 

15.  Acts  of   incorporation  are  public 

acts  for  purposes  of  pleading. 

16.  Repeal,  effect  of,  in  civil  cases. 

18.  Repeal  not  to  revive  statutes  re- 

pealed. 

19.  Statutes,  when  to  take  effect. 


Rules  of  con-         SECTION  1.     In  the  construction  of  statutes  the  provisions 

struction.when 

to  be  applied.  of  this  chapter  shall  be  observed,  unless  the  observance  of 
them  would  lead  to  a  construction  inconsistent  with  the 
manifest  intent  of  the  general  assembly,  or  be  repugnant  to 
some  other  part  of  the  same  statute. 


Genders. 


Numbers. 


SEC.  2.  Every  word  importing  the  masculine  gender  only, 
may  be  constructed  to  extend  to  and  to  include  females  as 
well  as  males. 

SEC.  3.  Every  word  importing  the  singular  number  only, 
may  be  construed  to  extend  to  and  to  include  the  plural 
number  also ;  and  every  word  importing  the  plural  number 
only,  may  be  constructed  to  extend  to  and  to  embrace  the 
singular  number  also. 


SEC.  4.     All  words  purporting  to  give  a  joint  authority  to 
iree  or  more  officers  or  persons  shall  be  s 
give  such  authority  to  a  majority  of  them. 


Joint  authority 
to  any  three  or 

more  is  au-        three  or  more  officers  or  persons  shall  be  so  construed  as  to 

thority  to  the 
majority. 


"Person."  SEC.  5.     The  word  " person "  may  be  construed  to  extend 

to   and  include   copartnerships   and   bodies   corporate  and 
politic. 


Chap.  26.]  CONSTRUCTION   OF  STATUTES.  13 

SEC.  6.     The  words  "insane  person"  shall  be  construed  to   "insane 

person." 

include  every  idiot,  person  of  unsound  rnind,  lunatic  and  dis- 
tracted person. 

SEC.  7.     The  words  "  United  States"  shall  be  construed  to  "united 
include  the  several  states  and  the  territories  of  the  United 
States. 

SEC.  8.     The  word  ''town"  may  be  construed  to  include  "Town." 
city,   or   the   District   of  Narragansett :     the   words   "town   "Town 

council." 

council,"  board   of   aldermen  or  the  district  council  of  the 

District  of  Narragansett ;  the  words  "town  clerk,"  city  clerk  "Town clerk." 

or  the  clerk  of  the  District  of  Narragansett ;  the  words  "  ward  "  ward  clerk." 

clerk,"  clerk  of  election  district ;  the  words  "  town  treasurer,"  "Town 

treasurer." 

city  treasurer  or  the  treasurer  of  the  District  of  Narragan- 
sett; and  the  words  "town  sergeant,"  city  sergeant  or  the  "Town 

sergeant." 

district  sergeant  of  the  District  of  Narragansett. 

SEC.  9.     The  word  "  land  "  or  "  lands,"  and  the  words  "real  "Lan,d-',', or 

lands." 

estate,"  may  be  construed  to  include  lands,  tenements  and   "  Real  estate.'' 
hereditaments,  and  rights  thereto  and  interests  therein. 

SEC.  10.     The  word  "oath"  shall  be  construed  to  include   "Oath," 

sworn." 

affirmation;  the  word  '; sworn,"  affirmed;  and  the  word  "en-   "ensaged." 
gaged,"  either  sworn  or  affirmed. 

SEC.  11.     The  words  "month"  and  "year"  shall  be  con-  "Month." 

kl>  Ypar  " 

strued  to  mean  a  calendar  month  and  year. 

SEC.  12.     Whenever  time  is  to  be  reckoned  from  any  day,  computation 

J         J  '    of  time. 

date,  or  act  done,  or  the  time  of  any  act  done,  such  day,  date, 
or  the  day  when  such  act  is  done,  shall  not  be  included  in 
such  computation. 

SEC.  13.     The  words  "justice  of  the  peace  "may  be  con-   "Justice  of  the 
strued  to  include  warden  of  the  peace,  and  the  words  "  dis- 
trict  court "  to  include  warden's  court. 


14 


LAWS   PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  30. 


SEC.  14.  Whenever  a  seal  is  required  to  be  affixed  to  any 
paper,  the  word  "  seal "  shall  be  construed  to  include  an  im- 
pression of  such  seal  made  with  or  without  the  use  of  wax  or 
wafer  on  the  paper. 


SEC.  15.     Every  act  of  incorporation  shall  be  so  far  deemed 


Acts  of  incor- 
poration are 
public  acts  for  ...  ,  i      ,    ,  i  i        -i      i          i  T 

purposes  of        a  public  act,  that  the  same  may  be  declared  on  and  given  in 

pleading. 

evidence,  without  specially  pleading  the  same. 


Eepeal,  effect 
of,  in  civil 
cases. 


Eepeal  not  to 
revive  statutes 
repealed. 


Statutes,  when 
to  take  effect. 


SEC.  16.  The  repeal  of  any  statute  shall  in  no  case  affect 
any  act  done,  or  any  right  accrued,  acquired  or  established, 
or  any  suit  or  proceeding  had  or  commenced  in  any  civil 
case  before  the  time  when  such  repeal  shall  take  effect. 

SEC.  18.  The  repeal  of  any  statute  shall  not  be  construed 
to  revive  any  other  statute  which  has  been  repealed. 

SEC.  19.  Every  statute  which  does  not  expressly  prescribe 
the  time  when  it  shall  go  into  operation,  shall  take  effect  on 
the  tenth  day  next  after  the  rising  of  the  general  assembly 
at  the  session  thereof  at  which  the  same  shall  be  passed. 


CHAPTER  30. 


Of  the  Permanent  School  Fund. 


Custody  and 
investment  of 
the  school 
fund. 


SECTION 

1.  Custody  and  investment. 

2.  Money  from  auctioneers  to  be  added 

to  the  fund. 

3.  School  money  forfeited  by  towns,  to 

be  added  to  the  fund. 


SECTION 

4.  Additions,  how  they  are  to  be  in- 

vested. 

5.  Income  to  be  appropriated  for  sup- 

port of  public  schools. 


SECTION  1.  The  general  treasurer,  with  the  advice  of  the 
governor,  shall  have  full  power  to  regulate  the  custody  and 
safe  keeping  of  the  fund  now  constituting  the  permanent 
fund  for  the  support  of  public  schools,  and  shall  keep  the 
same  securely  invested  in  the  capital  stock  of  some  safe  and 


Chap.  31.] 


PUBLIC  RECOKDS. 


15 


responsible  bank  or  banks  or  in  bonds  of  towns  or  cities 
within  this  state. 

SEC.   2.     The  money  that  shall  be  paid  into   the   state  Money  paid  to 

the  state  by 

treasury  by  auctioneers,  for  duties  accruing  to  the  use  of  the  JeaddedYo  the 
state,  is  aproppriated,  and  the  same  shall  annually  be  added  fund< 
to  said  school  fund,  for  the  permanent  increase  thereof. 

SEC.  3.     Whenever  any  money  appropriated  to  any  town  school  money 

forfeited  by 

from  the  state  treasury,  for  the  support  of  public  schools  the  torn  to  be 

added  to  the 

therein,  shall  have  been  forfeited  by  such  town,  the  same  fund- 
shall  be  added  to  said  school  fund,  and  shall  forever  remain 
a  part  thereof. 

SEC.  4.     The  general  treasurer,  with  the  advice  of  the  gov-  Additions,  how 

to  be  invested. 

ernor,  shall  from  time  to  time  securely  invest  all  sums  of 
money  hereby  directed  to  be  added  to  said  fund,  in  the 
capital  stock  of  some  safe  and  responsible  bank  or  banks  or 
in  bonds  of  any  town  or  city  within  this  state. 

SEC.  5.     The  income  arising  from  said  fund  so  invested  income  to  be 

appropriated 

shall  annually   be  appropriated  for  the  support  of  public  schooSP°rtc 
schools  in  the  several  towns. 


CHAPTER  31. 

Of  the  Public  -Records. 


SECTION 

1.  Officers  to  deliver  official  records, 
etc.,  to  their  successors  in  office, 
or  to  secretary  of  state,  when. 
Penalty  for  neglect. 


SECTION 

2.  Penalty  for  neglect  by  other  than 
the  lawful  custodian,  to  deliver 
official  records,  etc. 


SECTION  1.     Every  person  who  shall  hold  a  public  office  officers  to  de- 

,  n  .  •         /v.  liver  official 

shall,  upon  leaving-  the  same,  deliver  to  his  successor  in  omce,  records,  etc., 

'    to  their  suc- 

or,  if  there  be  no  successor,  to  the  secretary  of  state,  all  officerornto 
records,  books,  writings,  letters  and  documents,  kept  or  re- 


16 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  36. 


Penalty  for 
neglect,  etc  , 


ceived  by  him  in  the  transaction  of  his  official  business,  and 
all  moneys  in  his  hands  which  he  shall  have  received  as  trust 
funds  from  any  person  or  otherwise  in  the  course  of  his  offi- 
cial business ;  and  every  such  person  who  shall,  without  just 
without  cause.  cause>  refuse  or  neglect  for  the  space  of  ten  days  after  re- 
quest made  in  writing  by  any  citizen  of  the  state,  to  deliver 
as  herein  required  such  records,  books,  writings,  letters  or 
documents,  or  to  pay  over  such  moneys,  to  the  person  au- 
thorized to  receive  the  same,  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding 
five  hundred  dollars  and  be  imprisoned  not  exceeding  five 
years. 

Penalty  for  SEC.  2.     Every  person,  other  than  the   lawful   custodian 

neglect  by 

fu?  oustodiaiT"  ^hereof,  who  shall  have  in  his  possession,  or  under  his  control, 
any  such  record,  book,  writing,  letter  or  document  as  is 
designated  in  section  one  of  this  chapter,  and  who  shall, 
without  just  cause,  refuse  or  neglect  for  the  space  of  ten 
days  after  request  made  in  writing  by  any  citizen  of  the 
state,  to  deliver  such  record,  book,  writing,  letter  or  docu- 
ment to  the  lawful  custodian  of  the  same,  shall  be  fined  not 
exceeding  five  hundred  dollars  and  be  imprisoned  not  ex- 
ceeding five  years. 


, 

to  deliver  offi- 
cial records, 
etc. 


CHAPTER  3(5. 
Of  the  Powers  of,  and  of  Suits  by  and  against,  Towns. 


SECTION 

4.  Towns  may  grant  money  for  schools, 

schoolhouses  and  school  libraries. 

5.  Towns   may  establish   free   public 

libraries. 

6.  May   appropriate    money    for    the 

maintenance, etc., of  such  libraries. 


SECTION 

7.    May    appropriate    money   for   free 
public  library  not  its  own. 

21.  Town  indebtedness  limited  to  three 

per  centum  of  taxable  property. 

22.  Town    taxes   limited    to    one    per 

centum  of  ratable  property. 


SECTION  4.     Towns  may,  at  any  legal  meeting,  grant  and 


schooihmlses      vo^e  sucn  sums  of  money  as  they  shall  judge  necessary  : 

' 


Chap.  36.]  POWERS  or,  SUITS  BY  AND  AGAINST,  TOWNS.  17 

For  the  support  of  schools,  purchase  of  sites  for  and  the 
building  and  repair  of  schoolhouses  ;  and  for  the  establishing 
and  maintaining  of  school  libraries  ; 

##*##.** 

SEC.  5.     The  electors  in  any  town  or  city  qualified  to  vote  Power  of,  to 

establish  free 

upon  any  proposition  to  impose  a  tax,  or  for  the  expenditure  glories 
of  money  in  such  town  or  city,  may,  by  a  majority  vote  of 
such  electors  voting  at  the  annual  meeting  for  the  election 
of  town  officers,  or  members  of  the  city  council  therein, 
appropriate  a  sum  not  exceeding  twenty-five  cents  on  each 
one  hundred  dollars  of  the  ratable  property  of  such  city  or 
town  in  the  year  next  preceding  such  appropriation,  for  the 
foundation  therein  of  a  free  public  library,  with  or  without 
branches,  for  all  the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  to  provide  suit- 
able rooms  for  such  library,  which  shall  be  used  under  such 
regulations  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  prescribed  by  the 
town  council  of  such  town,  or  city  council  of  such  city. 

SEC.  6.     Any  town  or  city  having  established  a  free  public  May  appro- 
priate for 

library  therein,  in  manner  as  aforesaid,  may  annually,  by  the  ™fas|jj;|nance 
majority  vote  of  the  electors  of  said  town,  qualified  as  afore-  llbranes- 
said  and  voting  on  the  proposition,  or  by  vote  of  the  city 
council  of  said  city,  appropriate  a  sum  not  exceeding  thirty 
cents  on  each  one  thousand  dollars  of  its  ratable  property, 
in  the  year  next  preceding  such  appropriation,  for  the  main- 
tenance and  increase  of  such  library  therein,  and  may  take, 
receive,  hold  and  manage  any  devise,  bequest  or  donation 
for  the  establishment,  increase  or  maintenance  of  a  public 
library  therein,  to  be  under  such  regulations  for  its  govern- 
ment, when  they  are  not  prescribed  by  its  donor,  as  may 
from  time  to  time  be  prescribed  by  the  town  council  of  such 
town,  or  the  city  council  of  such  city. 

SEC.  7.     Every  town  not  owning  a  free  public  Hbrary  may,  May  appro- 
priate for  free 
at  the  annual  town  meeting,  appropriate  a  sum  not  exceed- 

ing  thirty  cents  on  each  one  thousand  dollars  of  its  ratable 


18 


LAWS   PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  43. 


Limitation  of 
town's  in- 
debtedness. 


Limitation  of 
town  taxes. 


property  in  the  year  next  preceding  such  appropriation,  for 
the  maintenance  and  increase  of  any  free  public  library 
therein. 

SEC.  21.  No  town  shall,  without  special  statutory  au- 
thority therefor,  incur  any  debt  in  excess  of  three  per  centum 
of  the  taxable  property  of  such  town,  including*  the  indebted- 
ness of  such  town  on  the  tenth  day  of  April,  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  seventy-eight,  but  the  giving  of  a  new  note  or 
bond  for  a  pre-existing  debt,  or  for  money  borrowed  and 
applied  to  the  payment  of  such'  pre-existing  debt,  is  ex- 
cepted  from  the  provisions  of  this  section,  and  the  amount  of 
any  sinking  fund  shall  be  deducted  in  computing  such  in- 
debtedness. 

SEC.  22.  No  town  shall  assess  its  ratable  property  in  any 
one  year  in  excess  of  one  per  centum  of  its  ratable  value,  ex- 
cept for  the  purpose  of  paying  the  indebtedness  of  such 
town  or  the  interest  thereon,  or  for  appropriations  to  any  of 
the  sinking  funds,  or  for  extraordinary  repairs  for  damages 
caused  by  the  elements  ;  but  assessments  for  specific  ben  efits 
conferred  by  the  opening  or  improving  of  any  public  high- 
way, or  for  any  public  sewer,  shall  not  be  taken  to  be  within 
the  provisions  of  this  section. 


CHAPTER  43. 

Of  the  Establishment  and  Control  of  Free  PMic  Libraries 

l)y  Towns. 


SECTION 

1.  Town  or  city  council  may  accept 

gift  of   public  library,  or  funds 
for. 

2.  Town    or    city    council    to    elect 

trustees,  and  may  fill  vacancies. 


SECTION 

3.  Duties  and  powers  of  trustees. 

4.  Appropriation  for  support  of  library 

to  be  made  annually. 

5.  Trustees  to  accept  and  receipt  for 

legacies. 


SECTION  1.    In  case  any  library,  or  funds  for  the  establish- 
ment thereof,  may  be  offered  to  any  city  or  town  on  the  con- 


Chap.  43.]  TOWN  LIBRARIES.  19 

clition  that  said  library  shall  be  maintained  as  a  free  public  Town  or  city 

council  may 

library,  the  city  council  of  any  city,  or  town  council  of  any   a 


town,  is  hereby  authorized  to  accept  such  gift  in  behalf  of  orfundsfor- 
the  city  or  town. 

SEC.  2.     Whenever  any  city  or  town  shall  establish  a  free   Town  or  city 

council  to 

public  library,  or  shall  become  possessed,  as  above  provided,   elect  trustees. 

of  any  such  library,  the  aforesaid  city  councilor  town  council, 

as  the  case  may  be,  shall  proceed  to  elect  a  board  of  trustees, 

to  consist  of   not  less  than  three  members  nor   more  than 

seven.     As  soon  as  possible  after  the  election  of   the   first  Division  of 

trustees. 

board  the  members  thereof  shall  meet  and  be  divided  by  lot 
into  three  groups  or  classes,  the  terms  of  office  of  one  group 
expiring  in  one  year  from  the  date  of  their  election,  those  of 
another  group  in  two  years,  and  those  of  the  remaining 
group  in  three  years.  With  the  expiration  of  the  term  of 
office  of  any  member  the  vacancy  shall  be  filled  by  the  city 
council  or  town  council,  as  the  case  may  be,  for  the  term  of 
three  years.  Vacancies  occurring  by  resignation,  removal, 
death,  or  otherwise,  shall  be  filled  as  above  for  the  unexpired 
term  thereof. 

SEC.  3.  The  aforesaid  trustees  shall  take  possession  of 
said  library,  and  shall  thereafter  be  the  legal  guardians  and 
custodians  of  the  same.  They  shall  provide  suitable  rooms 
for  the  library,  arrange  for  the  proper  care  of  the  same, 
choose  one  or  more  competent  persons  as  librarians  and  fix 
their  compensation,  and  make  all  needful  rules  and  regula- 
tions for  the  government  of  the  library  and  the  use  of  the 
books  :  Provided,  that  no  fee  for  the  use  of  the  books  shall 
ever  be  exacted. 

SEC.  4.  Each  city  or  town  acting  under  this  chapter  shall 
annually  appropriate  for  the  support  of  the  public  library  an 
amount  at  least  as  much  as  that  which  the  library  shall  re- 
ceive from  the  state.  All  appropriations  from  the  city  or 


20 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.  [Chap.  44. 


controf  funds10  town 


state,  and  the  income  of  all  funds  belonging  to  the 
library,  shall  be  subject  to  the  exclusive  control  of  the  trus- 
tees, and  the  several  city  and  town  treasurers  shall  pay, 
within  the  limits  of  the  appropriations  and  other  library 
funds  in  their  hands,  all  bills  properly  certified  by  the  said 
trustees. 


SEC.  5.     In  case  of  any  bequest,  legacy,  or  gift  to,  or  in 


Trustees  to 
accenj;  and 

iegacies.or  favor  of,  a  public  library,  the  trustees  thereof  are  hereby 
authorized  and  empowered  to  accept  the  same  in  behalf  of, 
and  for  the  use  of,  the  library,  and  their  receipt  shall  be  a 
full  and  sufficient  discharge  and  release  to  any  executor, 
administrator,  or  other  person  authorized  to  make  the  pay- 
ment thereof. 


CHAPTER  44. 


Of  Property  Liable  to  and  Exempt  from  Taxation. 


proi 
liable,  unless 
exempted. 


Property 
exempt  from 
taxation. 


School 
property. 


SECTION 
1.    Property  liable  to  taxation. 


SECTION 
2.    Property  exempt  from  taxation. 


SECTION  1.  All  real  property  in  the  state  and  all  personal 
property  belonging  to  the  inhabitants  thereof  shall  be  liable 
to  taxation  unless  otherwise  specially  provided. 

SEC.  2.  The  following  property  and  no  other,  shall  be  ex- 
empt from  taxation  :  Property  belonging  to  the  state  ;  lands 
ceded  or  belonging  to  the  United  States ;  buildings  for  free 
public  schools,  buildings  for  religious  worship  and  the  land 
upon  which  they  stand  and  immediately  surrounding  the 
same,  to  an  extent  not  exceeding  one  acre,  so  far  as  said 
buildings  and  land  are  occupied  and  used  exclusively  for 
religious  or  educational  purposes;  the  buildings  and  per- 
sonal estate  owned  by  any  corporation  used  for  a  school, 
academy  or  seminary  of  learning,  and  of  any  incorporated 


Chap.  44.]  PKOPERTY  LIABLE  TO   TAXATION.  21 

public  charitable  institution,  and  the  land  upon  which  said 
buildings  stand  and  immediately  surrounding  the  same,  to 
an  extent  not  exceeding  one  acre,  so  far  as  the  same  is  used 
exclusively  for  educational  purposes,  but  no  property  or 
estate  whatever  shall  hereafter  be  exempt  from  taxation,  in 
any  case,  where  any  part  of  the  income  or  profits  thereof  or 
of  the  business  carried  on  thereon,  is  divided  among  its 
owners  or  stockholders ;  the  estates,  persons  and  families  of 
the  president  and  professors,  for  the  time  being,  of  Brown 
University,  for  not  more  than  ten  thousand  dollars  for  each 
such  officer,  his  estate,  person  and  family  included ;  property 
specially  exempt  by  charter,  unless  such  exemption  shall 
have  been  waived  in  whole  or  in  part ;  lots  of  land  used  ex- 
clusively for  burial  grounds  ;  the  property,  real  and  personal, 
held  for  or  by  any  incorporated  library  society,  or  any  free 
public  library,  or  any  free  public  library  society,  so  far  as 
said  property  shall  be  held  exclusively  for  library  purposes, 
or  for  the  aid  or  support  of  poor  friendless  children,  or  for 
the  aid  or  support  of  the  aged  poor,  or  for  the  aid  or  support 
of  the  poor  generally,  or  for  a  hospital  for  the  sick  or  dis- 
abled, and  any  fund  given  or  held  for  the  purpose  of  public 
education;  almshouses  and  the  land  and  buildings  used  in 
connection  therewith,  except  that  almshouse-estates,  when 
belonging  to  the  town,  shall  be  subject  to  taxation  for  school 
purposes,  in  the  school  district  in  which  they  are  situated ; 
the  estate  of  any  person  who  in  the  judgment  of  the  assessors 
is  unable,  from  infirmity  or  poverty,  to  pay  the  tax ;  the 
bonds  and  other  securities  issued  and  exempted  from  taxa- 
tion by  the  government  of  the  United  States. 


22 


LAWS  PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  47. 


Poll  tax  to  be 
assessed, 
when,  and  up- 
on whom. 


Assessors 
entitled  to 
certain  in- 
formation 
from  the  in- 
habitants of 
towns  and 
cities. 


Penalty  for 
refusing  to  give 
such  informa- 
tion. 


Collection  of 
poll  tax. 


CHAPTER  47. 

Of  Assessing  and  Collecting  Poll  Taxes. 


SECTION 

1.  Poll  tax  to  be  assessed,  when,  and 

upon  whom. 

2.  Assessors    entitled    to    certain    in- 

formation   from    inhabitants    of 
towns  and  cities. 


SECTION 

Penalty  for  refusing  to  give  such 
information. 

3.  Collection  of  poll  tax.  Tax  to  be 
applied  to  support  of  public 
schools. 


SECTION  1.  The  assessors  of  taxes  of  each  town  and  city 
shall,  at  the  time  of  the  annual  assessment  of  town  and  city 
taxes  therein  respectively,  assess  against  every  person  in 
said  town  or  city,  who,  if  registered,  would  be  qualified  to 
vote,  a  tax  of  one  dollar,  or  so  much  thereof  as  with  his  other 
taxes  shall  amount  to  one  dollar. 

SEC.  2.  The  assessors  of  taxes  of  each  town  or  city,  or 
either  of  them,  or  any  person  by  them  authorized,  may,  at 
any  time  within  three  months  preceding  the  time  of  assess- 
ing the  poll  tax  in  their  respective  towns  or  cities,  require 
from  any  and  every  inhabitant  of  such  town  or  city  such  in- 
formation as  may  be  deemed  necessary  by  them,  or  either  of 
them,  to  enable  said  assessors  to  decide  whether  or  not  any 
inhabitant  is  liable  to  assessment  for  said  tax ;  and  any 
person  who  shall  refuse  to  give  such  information,  or  shall 
wilfully  make  any  false  statements  for  the  purpose  of  deceiv- 
ing in  the  giving  of  such  information,  shall  be  punished  by 
fine  not  exceeding  twenty  dollars,  or  imprisonment  in  the 
county  jail  for  a  term  not  exceeding  ninety  days. 

SEC.  3.  The  assessors  of  taxes  on  completing  the  assess- 
ment of  taxes  as  prescribed  in  this  chapter,  shall  date  and 
sign,  and  within  three  days  thereafter  deposit  the  same  in 
the  office  of  the  town' clerk,  except  in  the  city  of  Providence, 
and  in  the  city  of  Providence  deposit  the  same  with  the  city 
treasurer  thereof.  The  town  clerk  shall  forthwith  make  a 
copy  of  the  same  and  deliver  it  to  the  town  treasurer,  and 


Chap.  48.]  COLLECTION  OF  TAXES.  23 

the  town  treasurer  shall  forthwith  issue  and  affix  to  said  copy 
a  warrant  under  his  hand,  and  which  need  not  be  under  seal, 
directed  to  the  collector  of  taxes  of  the  town  commanding1 
him  to  proceed  and  collect  the  several  sums  of  money  therein 
expressed,  of  the  persons  liable  therefor,  by  the  time  directed 
by  the  town,  and  to  pay  over  the  same  to  him  or  to  his  suc- 
cessor in  office.  Whenever  any  town  shall  elect  its  town 
treasurer  collector  of  taxes  for  such  town,  such  warrant  shall 
be  issued  to  the  town  treasurer  as  collector  of  taxes  by  the 
town  clerk.  The  tax  assessed  according  to  the  provisions  of  ^VecUo 
this  chapter,  shall  be  applied  to  the  support  of  the  public  public  schools' 
schools  in  such  town  or  city. 


CHAPTER  48. 

Of  the  Collection  of  Taxes. 


SECTION 


2.  Taxes  a  lien  on  real  estate. 

3.  Lien,  how  long  to  continue. 


SECTION 
17.    Collector   may   distrain    and    sell 


personal  property. 

7.    Tax  may  be  collected  from  either  '       18.  Property  exempt  from  distraint. 

real  or  personal  estate.  19,  20.    Sales    of     personal     property  ; 

9.    Collector  may  advertise  and  sell.  notice  of,  how  given. 

10.  Real    estate    may   be    sold*   after  j       21.  Property  to  be  sold  by  auction  if 

notice ;  notice  how  given.  tax  is  not  paid. 

11.  Notice,  how  given  in  case  of  resi-          22.  Surplus  to  be  returned  to  owner. 

dents.                                                        23.  Collector    may    remove    personal 

12.  Notice  to  persons  not  taxed  who  property  for  sale. 

have  an  interest  in  the  property  \       24.  May  follow  persons  or  property  to 

taxed.  any  town. 

13.  If  non-residents,  a  copy  of  notice  j       25.  Sale  may  be  adjourned. 

to  be  sent  by  mail.                                      26.  Collector  may  recover  tax,  how. 

14.  Entry  upon  the  land  not  necessary  ;  j       27.  Judgment,  execution  and  levy. 

return  to  be  made  to  town  clerk          28.  Proceedings,  where  person  taxed 

under  oath  ;  effect  of  return.  is  out  of  state. 

15.  Deed  of  real  estate  sold  by  collector  j       29.  Warrant  of  distress  to  issue,  when. 

or  sheriff  for  taxes,  what  title          34.  Warrant  is  in  force  until   tax    is 

vests  in  purchaser.  collected. 

16.  Owner    may    redeem    within    one          35.  Collector  may  require  aid. 

year. 

SECTION  2.     All  taxes  assessed  ag-ainst  any  person  in  any  Taxes  alien  on 

J     real  estate. 

town  for  either  personal  or  real  estate  shall  constitute  a  lien 
on  his  real  estate  therein. 


24 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  48. 


tinenet(hown~ 


*  ^  tax  es  assessed  against  the  owner  of  any  real 
estate  shall  constitute  a  lien  on  such  real  estate  in  any  town, 
for  the  space  of  two  years  after  the  assessment,  and,  if  such 
real  estate  be  not  aliened,  then  until  the  same  is  collected. 


Tax  may  be 
collected  from 


SEC.  7.  If  any  person  is  taxed  for  several  parcels  of  real 
esfafe.pers°nal  estate,  or  for  personal  and  real  estate  in  the  same  tax,  the 
whole  of  such  person's  tax  may  be  collected,  either  out  of  the 
real  or  personal  estate,  or  any  part  thereof :  Provided,  that 
no  land  aliened  shall  be  sold,  if  the  person  taxed  have  other 
sufficient  property. 


Collector  may 
advertise  and 

sell. 


Real  estate 
may  be  sold 
after  notice. 


Notice  of  sale, 
how  to  be 
given. 


How  given  in 
case  of 
residents. 


Notice  to 
persons  not 
taxed,  who 
have  an 
interest. 


SEC.  9.  The  collector  may  advertise  and  sell  any  real 
estate  liable  for  taxes  in  the  manner  hereinafter  directed. 

SEC.  10.  In  all  cases  where  any  parcel  of  real  estate  is 
liable  for  payment  of  taxes,  so  much  thereof  as  is  necessary 
to  pay  the  tax,  interest,  costs  and  expenses,  shall  be  sold  by 
the  collector,  at  public  auction,  to  the  highest  bidder,  after 
notice  has  been  given  of  the  levy,  and  of  the  time  and  place 
of  sale,  in  some  newspaper  published  in  the  town,  if  there  be 
one,  and  if  there  be  no  newspaper  published  in  the  town, 
then  in  some  newspaper  published' in  the  county,  at  least 
once  a  week  for  the  space  of  three  weeks,  and  the  collector 
shall  also  post  up  notices  in  two  or  more  public  places  in  the 
town  for  the  same  period. 

SEC.  11.  If  the  person  to  whom  the  estate  is  taxed  be  a 
resident  of  this  state,  the  collector  shall,  in  addition  to  the 
foregoing,  cause  notice  of  his  levy,  and  of  the  time  and  place 
of  sale,  to  be  left  at  his  last  and  usual  place  of  abode,  or 
personally  served  on  him,  at  least  twenty  days  previous  to 
the  day  of  sale. 

SEC.  12.  In  case  the  collector  shall  advertise  for  sale  any 
property,  real,  personal  or  mixed,  in  which  any  person  other 
than  the  person  to  whom  the  tax  is  assessed  has  an  interest, 


Chap.  48.]  COLLECTION  OF  TAXES.  25 

he  shall,  provided  the  interest  of  such  other  person  appears 
upon  the  records  of  the  town,  leave  a  copy  of  the  notice  of 
such  sale  at  the  last  and  usual  place  of  abode,  or  personally 
with  such  other  person,  if  within  this  state,  twenty  days 
prior  to  the  time  of  such  sale. 

SEC.  13.     If  such  other  person  have  no  last  and  usual  place  Non-residents 

to  have  notice 

of  abode  within  this  state,  then  a  copy  of  said  notice  shall  by  mail- 
be  sent  by  mail  to  such  person,  at  his  place  of  residence,  if 
known,  twenty  days  prior  to  the  time  of  such  sale. 

SEC.  14.     No  entry  upon  the  land  by  the  collector  shall  be   Entry  not 

necessary. 

deemed  necessary  ;  but  the  collector,  in  all  cases  of  sales  of 
real  estate,  shall  make  a  return  of  all  his  proceedings  under 
oath  into  the  town  clerk's  office,  within  ten  days  after  the 
sale ;  which  return  shall  be  evidence  of  the  facts  therein 
stated. 

SEC.  15.     The  deed  of  any  real  estate,  or  of  any  interest  ^feVby^aie 
therein,  sold  for  the  payment  of  taxes,  made  and  executed  by  f 
the  sheriff  or  collector  who  shall  sell  the  same,  shall  vest  in 
the  purchaser,  subject  to  the  right  of  redemption  hereinafter 
provided,  all  the  estate,  right  and  title  the  owner  thereof  had 
in  and  to  such  real  estate  at  the  time  said  tax  was  assessed, 
free  from  any  interest  or  incumbrance  thereon  of  any  person 
to  whom  the  notice  required  by  the  provisions  of  this  chapter 
shall  have  been  given  ;  and  the  recitals  in  such  deed  shall  be 
evidence  of  the  facts  stated. 

SEC.  16.     The  person  who  owned  any  real  estate  sold  for  owner  may  . 

redeem  within 

taxes,  at  the  time  of  the  assessment,  or  any  interest  therein,  one  year- 
his  heirs,  assigns  or  devisees,  may  redeem  the  same  upon  re- 
paying to  the  purchaser  the  amount  paid  therefor,  with 
twenty  per  centum  in  addition,  within  one  year  after  the  sale, 
or  .within  six  months  after  final  judgment  has  been  rendered 
in  any  suit  in  which  the  validity  of  the  sale  is  in  question  : 


26 


LAWS   PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  48, 


Provided,  said  suit  be  commenced  within  one  year  after  such 
sale. 

SEC.  17.  The  collector  may  distrain  personal  property, 
except  as  provided  in  the  section  following,  and  may  sell  the 
same  in  the  manner  hereinafter  directed. 


from 
distraint,  etc. 


^'  ProPerty  exempt  from  attachment  or  distress  by 
the  lftwg  of  ^  gtafce  or  of  ^  United  States  shall  not  be 
liable  to  be  distrained  for  any  taxes  whatsoever. 


cases  w^ere   personal  property  shall   be 


Sersonai  ^EC*  ^'     ^n 

SotJSTof,  how  levied  on  by  any  collector,  he  shall  cause  notice  thereof,  and 

of  the  time  and  place  of  sale,  to  be  left  at  the  last  and  usual 
place  of  abode  of  the  owner,  or  personally  to  be  given  to 
him,  at  least  five  days  previous  to  the  appointed  time  of  sale, 
if  such  owner  have  a  last  and  usual  place  of  abode  in  the 
state  or  if  personal  notice  can  be  given  to  him. 


same  subject. 


gEc.  20.  The  collector  shall  also  in  all  cases  advertise  the 
same  for  three  successive  weeks  in  a  newspaper,  if  there  be 
one  published  in  the  town,  if  not,  in  the  county,  and  shall 
also  post  up  notices  in  three  public  places  in  said  town,  at 
least  twenty  days  previous  to  the  appointed  time  of  sale. 


notsbe6intapaid 


°wner  do  not  pay  the  amount  of  the  tax, 
with  the  interest  or  percentage  and  all  costs  and  charges,  by 
the  time  appointed  for  the  sale,  the  collector  shall  sell  the 
same,  or  enough  to  pay  said  sums,  at  public  auction. 


^EC*  ^'  ^D^  Pr°Perty  or  surplus  of  money  remaining 
shall  be  returned  to  the  owner  or  person  entitled  to  receive 
it.  If  no  owner  or  person  entitled  to  receive  the  same  can 
be  found  by  the  collector,  he  shall  deliver  such  property  or 
surplus  of  money  to  the  town  treasurer,  who  shall  hold  the 
same  subject  to  the  call  of  the  owner  thereof. 


SEC.  23.     Any  collector  may,  with  consent  of  the  owner, 


Chap.  48.]  COLLECTION  OF  TAXES.  27 

remove   personal   property  for   sale   to   any  town   or  place,   collector  may 

remove 

where  it  may  be  sold  to  the  best  advantage,  giving-  notice  to  PJJJJJSJ  for 
the  owner  as  before  provided,  and  giving  notice  as  provided   sale' 
by  section  twenty  of  this  chapter,  in  the  town  or  place  where 
the  sale  is  to  be  made. 

SEC.  24.     If  any  person  or  property  taxed  in  one  town  re-  May  follow 

persons  or 

moves  or  is  removed  into  another  town  before  the  tax  is  col- 
lected,  the  collector  may  follow  such  person  or  property  into 
any  town,  and  levy  or  collect  the  tax  with  the  same  power 
.as  if  not  removed. 

SEC.  25.  Any  sale  of  real  or  personal  estate  or  of  any 
interest  therein,  liable'for  the  payment  of  taxes  by  the  pro- 
visions of  this  chapter,  may  be  adjourned  from  time  to  time. 

SEC.  26.  The  collector  of  any  tax  may  recover  the  amount 
thereof  in  an  action  of  the  case  against  the  person  taxed, 
and  in  the  declaration  it  shall  be  sufficient  to  set  forth  that 
the  action  is  to  recover  a  specified  sum  of  money,  being  a 
tax  assessed  against  the  defendant,  specifying  the  town  in 
which  said  tax  was  assessed  and  the  time  of  ordering  and 
.assessing  the  same. 

SEC.  27.     If  judgment  be  rendered  in  favor  of  the  collector,  Judgment  in 

such  a  case  ; 


he  shall  have  an  allowance  for  his  reasonable  trouble  in  at- 
tending  to  the  suit,  to  be  taxed  by  the  court  in  the  bill  of  ( 
costs,  and  execution  shall  issue  against  the  real  and  personal 
estate  of  the  defendant,  and  the  levy  of  the  execution  upon 
any  real  estate,  upon  which  a  lien  for  such  tax  is  created  by 
this  chapter,  shall  be  deemed  to  relate  back,  and  take  effect 
from  the  time  of  commencement  of  such  lien. 

SEC.  28.  If  any  person  legally  taxed  shall  be  out  of  the 
state,  or  depart  therefrom,  leaving  no  property  liable  for  the 
tax,  the  collector  may  summon  the  attorney,  agent,  factor, 
trustee  or  debtor  of  such  person  before  the  district  court  of 


28 


LAWS   PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  48, 


Warrant  of  dis- 
tress to  issue, 
when. 


Warrants  in 
force  until 
taxis 
collected. 


Collector  may 
require  aid. 


the  district  in  which  the  town  where  the  tax  is  assessed  is 
situated,  to  declare  on  oath  how  much  property,  if  any,  of 
such  absent  person,  he  has  in  his  possession ;  and  if  he  has 
sufficient  property  he  shall  forthwith  pay  such  tax  and 
charges,  or  deliver  to  the  collector  sufficient  property  there- 
for. 

SEC.  29.  If  any  person  so  summoned  shall  neglect  to  ap- 
pear, or  refuse  to  make  oath,  or  having  made  oath  shall  refuse 
to  pay  such  tax  and  charges,  or  to  deliver  to  the  collector 
sufficient  property  therefor,  if  such  he  has,  such  district  court 
shall  forthwith  grant  to  the  collector  a  warrant  of  distress 
against  the  proper  goods  and  chattels  of  such  person  so 
summoned,  and  the  collector  may  distrain  and  sell  the  same 
wherever  found,  or  so  much  thereof  as  will  pay  the  tax  and 
all  interest  and  expenses,  in  manner  provided  by  this  chapter ; 
and  said  district  court  shall  have  jurisdiction  in  the  premises, 
although  the  amount  involved  shall  exceed  three  hundred 
dollars. 

SEC.  34.  All  warrants  for  the  collecting  of  taxes  shall  con- 
tinue in  force  until  the  whole  tax  is  collected,  notwithstand- 
ing the  time  appointed  for  collecting  the  tax,  or  the  year  of 
office,  may  have  expired,  and  notwithstanding  the  collector 
may  have  paid  the  tax  into  the  town  treasury. 

SEC.  35.  Every  collector  shall  have  the  same  right  to  re- 
quire the  aid  or  assistance  of  the  persons  present,  in  the 
performance  of  his  duty,  which  a  sheriff  now  has  by  law. 


Chap.  50.]          PROVISIONS  CONCERNING  TAXES.  29 


CHAPTER  50. 

General  Provisions  Concerning  Taxes. 

SECTION  j    SECTION 

1.  Towns  may  provide  for  deduction,    |       3.    Town  taxes  to  have  preference,  in 

if  tax  is  paid;  and  impose  per-    |  cases  of  insolvency. 

centage,  if  tax  is  not  paid.  4.    Compensation   of   assessors,   town 

2.  Officers  neglecting  to  perform  duties    ;  clerks  and  collectors. 

required    of   them,   liable   to   be    j       5.    School  district  taxes, 
indicted. 

SECTION  1.     Any   town   may   provide   for  such  deduction  Towns  may 

provide  for 

from  the  tax  assessed  against  any  person,  if  paid  by  an  ap-  deduction«  etc- 
pointed  time,  or  for  such  penalties  by  way  of  percentage  on 
a  tax,  if  not  paid  at  the  time  appointed,  not  exceeding  twelve 
per  centum  per  annum,  as  they  shall  deem  necessary  to  insure 
punctual  payment. 

SEC.  2.     Every  officer  who  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  per-   officers 

neglecting 

form  any  duty  imposed  on  him  in  this  title,  or  who  shall  not  be1*ndSdmay 
comply  with  the  provisions  thereof,  or  who  shall  in  any  wise 
knowingly  violate  any  provisions  thereof,  shall  be  imprisoned 
not  exceeding  one  year  or  be  fined  not  exceeding  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  which  fine,  in  case  it  be  a  state  tax,  shall  be 
paid  into  the  state  treasury,  or  if  a  town  tax,  into  the  town 
treasury,  or  if  a  school  district  tax,  into  the  school  district 
treasury,  or  if  a  fire  corporation  tax,  into  the  fire  corporation 
treasury. 

SEC.  3.     Whenever  any  person  shall  become  insolvent,  or  Town  taxes  to 
die  insolvent,  town  taxes  due  from  him  or  his  estate  shall  fnnsc0eiVency. 
have  preference,  after  debts  or  taxes  due  the  United  States 
and  this  state,  over  all  other  debts  or  demands,  save  those 
due  for  necessary  funeral'  charges,  and  for  attendance  and 
medicine  during  his  last  sickness. 

SEC.  4.     Assessors  shall  receive  such  compensation  as  the 
town  shall  allow  ;  town  clerks  shall  be  paid  for  copying  tax 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  50. 

o?SieeasSati°n  bills  as  for  other  copies  ;  and  collectors  shall  be  paid  for  col- 
lecting at  the  rate  of  live  per  centum,  unless  they  shall  have 
agreed  with  the  town  for  a  less  sum  ;  which  fees  shall  be  paid 
out  of  the  town  treasury.  In  case  of  distraint  of  personal 
property,  or  levy  on  land,  the  collector  shall  have  the  same 
fees  as  sheriffs  have  in  similar  cases. 


of  the  as 
sessors,  town 
clerks  and 
collectors. 


School  district 
taxes. 


SEC.  5.     The  provisions  of  this   title   shall   apply   to  all 
school  district  taxes,  so  far  as  they  may  be  applicable. 


TITLE  IK. 


OF  PUBLIC  INSTRUCTION. 


CHAPTER  51.  Of  the  board  of  education. 

CHAPTER  52.  Of  the  commissioner  of  public  schools. 

CHAPTER  53.  Of  the  appropriation  for  public  schools. 

CHAPTER  54.  Of  the  powers  and  duties  of  towns  and  of  the  town  treasurer  and  town 

clerk  relative  to  public  schools. 

CHAPTER  55.  Of  the  powers  of  school  districts. 

CHAPTER  56.  Of  district  meetings. 

CHAPTER  57.  Of  joint  school  districts. 

CHAPTER  58.  Of  the  levy  of  district  taxes. 

CHAPTER  59.  Of  the  trustees  of  school  districts. 

CHAPTER  60.  Of  the  powers  and  duties  of  school  committees. 

CHAPTER  61.  Of  teachers. 

CHAPTER  62.  Of  legal  proceedings  relating  to  public  schools. 

CHAPTER  63.  Of  the  normal  school,  teachers'  institutes  and  lectures. 

CHAPTER  64.  Of  truant  children  and  of  the  attendance  of  children  in  the  public 

schools. 

CHAPTER  65.  General  provisions  relating  to  public  schools. 

CHAPTER  66.  Of  the  Rhode  Island  college  of  agriculture  and  mechanic  arts. 

CHAPTER  67.  Of  state  beneficiaries  at  the  Rhode  Island  school  of  design. 

CHAPTER  68.  Of  factory  inspection. 


Chap.  51.]  BOARD   OF  EDUCATION.  31 


CHAPTER    51. 

Of  the  Board  of  Education. 


SECTION 


1.  Board    of    education,    how    con- 

stituted, and  duties  of. 

2.  How  divided,  and  term  of  office 

of  members. 

3.  Vacancies,  how  filled. 

4.  Officers  of  the  board. 

5.  To  hold  quarterly  meetings,  and 

prescribe  rules. 

6.  Appropriation  for  free  public  libra- 

ries. 

7.  Board  to  prescribe  conditions  on 

which  libraries  may  receive  aid. 


SECTION 

8.  Payments,  how  to  be  made. 

9.  Annual  reports  to  be  made  to  the 

board,  by  officers  of  schools  re- 
ceiving state  aid. 

10.  Private  schools  to  be  registered. 

11.  Board  to  furnish  forms  for  returns 

under  preceding  two  sections. 

12.  Chapter  86  unaffected. 

13.  Board  to  report  annually. 

14.  Travelling  expenses  of  the  board  to 

be  paid,  and  how. 


SECTION  1.     The  general   supervision  and  control  of  the  constitution 

and  duty  of 

public  schools  of  the  state,  with  such  high  schools,  normal  the  board- 
schools  and  normal  institutes,  as  are  or  may  be  established 
and  maintained  wholly  or  in  part  by  the  state,  shall  be  vested 
in  a  state  board  of  education,  which  shall  consist  of  the 
governor  and  the  lieutenant-governor,  as  members  by  virtue 
of  their  office,  and  of  one  other  member  from  each  of  the 
counties  of  the  state,  with  the  exception  of  Providence 
county,  which  shall  have  two  other  members.  The  board  of 
education  shall  elect  the  commissioner  of  public  schools. 


SEC.  2.  The  members  of  the  board  of  education  shall 
continue  to  be  divided  into  three  classes,  and  to  hold  their 
offices  until  the  terms  for  which  they  were  respectively 
elected  shall  have  expired. 

SEC.  3.  Two  members  of  the  board  of  education  shall  be 
elected  annually  at  the  May  session  of  the  general  assembly, 
in  grand  committee,  from  the  counties  in  which  vacancies  shall 
occur  in  said  board,  who  shall  hold  office  for  three  years,  and 
until  their  successors  shall  have  been  elected  and  qualified  ; 
vacancies  in  said  board  shall  be  filled  for  any  unexpired  term 
by  an  election  from  the  county  for  which  the  member  whose 


32 


LAWS   PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  51. 


Officers. 


Meetings. 


Free  public 
libraries  ma 
be  aided. 


Board  to  pre- 
scribe condi- 
tions on  which 
libraries  may 
receive  aid. 


office  is  vacant  was  elected,  in  the  same  manner,  at  any  ses- 
sion of  the  general  assembly. 

SEC.  4.  The  governor  shall  be  president,  and  the  commis- 
sioner of  public  schools  shall  be  secretary  of  the  board  of 
education. 

SEC.  5.  The  board  of  education  shall  hold  quarterly  meet- 
ings in  the  first  week  of  March,  June,  September  and  Decem- 
ber of  each  year,  at  the  office  of  the  commissioner  of  public 
schools,  and  may  hold  special  meetings  at  the  call  of  the 
president  or  secretary.  They  shall  prescribe,  and  cause  to 
be  enforced,  all  rules  and  regulations  necessary  for  carrying 
into  effect  the  laws  in  relation  to  public  schools. 

SEC.  6.  The  board  of  education  may  caused  to  be  paid 
annually  to  and  for  the  use  of  each  free  public  library  es- 
tablished and  maintained  in  the  state,  and  to  be  expended  *in 
the  purchase  of  books  therefor,  a  sum  not  exceeding  fifty 
dollars  for  the  first  five  hundred  volumes  included  in  such 
library,  and  twenty-five  dollars  for  every  additional  five 
hundred  volumes  therein :  Provided \  that  the  annual  pay- 
ment for  the  benefit  of  any  one  such  library  shall  not  exceed 
the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars. 

SEC.  7.  The  board  of  education  shall  from  time  to  time 
establish  rules  prescribing  the  character  of  the  books  which 
shall  constitute  such  a  library  as  will  be  entitled  to  the  bene- 
fits conferred  by  the  preceding  section,  regulating  the  man- 
agement of  such  library  so  as  to  secure  the  free  use  of  the 
same  to  the  people  of  the  town  and  neighborhood  in  which 
it  shall  be  established,  and  directing  the  mode  in  which  th< 
sums  paid  in  pursuance  of  this  chapter  shall  be  expende( 
No  library  shall  receive  any  benefit  under  the  foregoing  prc 
visions,  unless  such  rules  shall  have  been  complied  with  by 
those  in  charge  thereof,  nor  until  they  shall  have  furnished 


Chap.  51.]  BOARD   OF  EDUCATION.  33 

to  said  board  satisfactory  evidence  of  the  number  and  char- 
acter of  the  books  contained  in  said  library. 

SEC.  8.  Every  payment  herein  authorized  shall  be  made  Payments, how 
by  the  general  treasurer  upon  the  order  of  the  commissioner 
of  public  schools,  approved  by  the  board  of  education,  and 
payable  to  the  librarian  or  other  person  having  charge  of 
such  library  or  of  the  funds  applied  to  its  support  designated 
by  said  board. 

SEC.  9.  The  trustees,  officers,  or  persons  in  charge  of  all  by 
schools  and  educational  institutions  supported  wholly  or  in 
part  by  this  state,  whether  entirely  devoted  to  education  or 
only  partially  so,  shall  make  a  report  annually  in  the  month 
of  July  to  the  state  board  of  education,  of  such  facts  as  shall 
show  the  number  of  pupils  and  instructors,  the  courses  of 
study,  the  cost  of  maintenance,  and  general  needs  and  con- 
ditions of  the  school  or  institution. 

§SEC.  10.     All  private  schools  or  institutions  of  learning  in  Private  schools 
are  to  be 

this  state  shall  be  registered  at  the  office  of  the  state  board  registered. 
of  education,  said  registry  showing  location,  name,  officers 
or  persons  in  charge,  grade  of  instruction,  and  common 
language  used  in  teaching.  They  shall  also  make  a  report 
annually  in  the  month  of  July,  to  the  state  board  of  educa- 
tion, showing  the  number  of  different  pupils  enrolled,  the 
average  attendance,  and  the  number  of  teachers  employed. 


SEC.  11.     The  board  shall  provide   registers  for  all  such  gg*J{[*ersand 
schools  and  institutions,  and  shall   prepare  blank  forms  of 
inquiry  for  the  facts  called  for  in  the  two  sections  next  pre- 
ceding, and  in  doing  so  shall  have  special  reference  to  the 
requirements  of  the  bureau  of  education  at  Washington. 

SEC.  12.      Nothing  in  the  three   sections  next  preceding  chapter  se 

'     unaffected. 

shall  be  so  construed  as  to  repeal,  affect,  or  modify  the  pro- 
visions of  chapter  eighty-six. 

5 


43 


LAWS   PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.  [Cliap.  52. 


Annual  report.  SEC.  13.  The  board  of  education  shall  make  an  annual 
report  to  the  general  assembly  at  the  adjourned  session  at 
Providence. 


Travelling 
expenses  of 
board,  how 
paid. 


SEC.  14.  The  members  of  said  board  shall  receive  110 
compensation  for  their  services,  but  the  general  treasurer 
shall  pay,  upon  the  order  of  the  state  auditor,  the  necessary 
expenses  of  the  members,  when  attending  the  meetings  of 
the  board,  or  when  travelling  on  official  business  within  the 
state,  after  the  bills  have  been  approved  by  the  general 
assembly. 


CHAPTER  52. 


Of  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Schools. 


To  be  elected 
by  the  board 
of  education. 


May  employ  a 
clerk. 


General  duties 
of  the 
commissioner. 


SECTION 

1.    Commissioner,  how  elected. 
'2.    May  employ  a  clerk. 

3.  Duties  of  the  commissioner. 

4.  To  secure  uniformity  of  text-books. 


SECTION 

5.  To    prepare    and    distribute    pro- 

gramme for  Arbor  Day. 

6.  To  report  to  the  general  assembly. 


SECTION  1.  There  shall  be  annually  elected  a  commissioner 
of  public  schools  in  the  manner  prescribed  in  the  preceding 
chapter,  who  shall  devote  his  time  exclusively  to  the  duties 
of  his  office.  In  case  of  sickness,  temporary  absence,  or 
other  disability,  the  governor  may  appoint  a  person  to  act  as 
commissioner  during  such  absence,  sickness  or  disability. 

SEC.  2.  He  may  employ  a  clerk  to  assist  in  the  duties  of 
his  office. 

SEC.  3.  The  commissioner  of  public  schools  shall  visit,  as 
often  as  practicable,  every  school  district  in  the  state,  for  the 
purpose  of  inspecting  the  schools,  and  diffusing  as  widely  as 
possible,  by  public  addresses  and  personal  communications 
with  school  officers,  teachers  and  parents,  a  knowledge  of  the 
defects,  and  of  any  desirable  improvements,  in  the  adminis- 


Chap.  53. J         APPROPRIATION   FOB  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


35 


tration  of  the  system  and  the  government  and  instruction  of 
the  schools. 

SEC.  4.     He   shall,    under   the    direction  of  the  board  of  Text-books- 
education,  recommend  and  bring  about,  as  far  as  practicable, 
a  uniformity  of  text-books  in  the  schools  of  all  the  towns ; 
and   shall   assist  in  the  establishment   of,  and  selection   of 
books  for,  school  libraries. 

SEC.  5.     The  commissioner  of  public  schools  shall  prepare  Arbor  Day. 
each  year  a  programme   of   exercises   suitable   for  the  ob- 
servance of  Arbor  Day,  and  shall  distribute  the  same  among 
all  of  the  public  schools  of  the  state  at  least  four  weeks 

previous  to  said  day. 

• 

SEC.  6.     He  shall  annually,  in  December,  make  a  report  to  Annual  report, 
the  board  of  education,  upon  the  state  and  condition  of  the 
schools  and  of  education,  with  plans  and  suggestions  for  the 
improvement  of  said  schools. 


CHAPTER  53. 


Of  the  Appropriation  for  Public  Schools. 


SECTION 

1.  Appropriation  from  treasury  to  be 

paid  annually. 

2.  How  apportioned. 

3.  How  expended. 

4.  Conditions  upon  which  towns  shall 

receive  their  proportion. 

5.  Forfeiture  of    town's  proportion, 

when. 


SECTION  • 

G.    Orders  on  the  general  treasurer. 
7,  8.     Appropriation     for     reference 
books  and  illustrative  appara- 
tus.   HowT  apportioned. 
9.    Of  future  apportionments  in  case 
applications  exceed  the  amount 
of  appropriation. 
10.    Evening  schools. 


SECTION  1.     The  sum  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  ££{£  treasury 
dollars  shall  be  annually  paid  out  of  the  income  of  the  per- 
manent school  fund,  and  from  other  money  in  the  treasury, 
for  the  support  of  public  schools  in  the  several  towns,  on 
the  order  of  the  commissioner  of  public  schools. 


3G 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  53. 


How 
apportioned. 


How 
expended. 


SEC.  2.  This  sum  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand 
dollars  shall  be  apportioned  by  the  commissioner  of  public 
schools  among  the  several  towns,  as  follows  :  The  sum  of  one 
hundred  dollars  shall  be  apportioned  for  each  school,  not  to 
exceed  fifteen  in  number  in  any  one  town ;  the  remainder 
shall  be  apportioned  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  children 
from  five  to  fifteen  years  of  age,  inclusive,  in  the  several 
towns,  according  to  the  school  census  then  last  preceding. 

SEC.  3.  The  money  appropriated  from  the  state  as  afore- 
said shall  be  denominated  "  teachers'  money,"  and  shall  be 
applied  to  the  wages  of  teachers,  and  to  no  other  purpose. 


Towns  to 
receive,  on 


SEC.  4.  No  town  shall  receive  any  part  of  such  state 
eqSaition°f  an  appropriation,  unless  it  shall  raise  by  tax,  for  the  support  of 
public  schools,  a  sum  equal  to  the  amount  it  may  receive 
from  the  treasury  for  the  support  of  public  schools. 


Forfeiture, 
when ;  and 
forfeitures  to 
be  added  to 
school  fund. 


SEC.  5.  If  any  town  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  raise  or 
appropriate  the  sum  required  in  the  preceding  section,  on  or 
before  the  first  day  of  July,  in  any  year,  its  proportion  of  the 
public  money  shall  be  forfeited,  and  the  general  treasurer,  on 
being  informed  thereof  in  writing  by  the  commissioner  of 
public  schools,  shall  add  it  to  the  permanent  school  fund. 

SEC.  6.  The  commissioner  of  public  schools  shall  draw 
orders  on  the  general  treasurer  for  their  proportion  of  the 
appropriation  for  public  schools,  in  favor  of  all  such  towns 
as  shall  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  July  annually  comply 
with  the  conditions  of  section  four  of  this  chapter. 

SEC.  7.     The   sum   of    three   thousand    dollars    shall    be 
?rattveandillus    annually  appropriated  for  the  purchase  of  dictionaries,  en- 
cyclopedias and  other  wrorks  of  reference,  maps,  globes  and 
other  apparatus,  for  the  use  of   the  public   schools   of   the 
state. 


The  commis- 
sioner to  draw 
on  general 
treasurer  in 
favor  of  towns 
entitled. 


Appropriation 
for  reference- 


apparatus. 


SEC.  8.     Said   sum   of    three    thousand    dollars    shall   be 


Chap.  53.]        APPROPRIATION  FOR   PUBLIC   SCHOOLS.  37 

apportioned  among  the  several  towns  and  districts  as  follows  :   Apportion- 

.  .   .  .  raent  of  said 

Every  town  or  district  desiring*  to  avail  itself  of  this  appro-  appropriation. 

priation  shall  make  application  therefor  to  the  commissioner 

of  public  schools,  stating-  the  amount  that  has  been  raised  or 

appropriated  for  the  same  purpose  by  the  town  or  district. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  said  application  and  vouchers  for  the 

amount  actually  expended,  the  commissioner  of  public  schools 

may  draw  his  order  on  the  general  treasurer  in  favor  of  said  SSIftor  forate 

applicant  for  half   of  the   amount  of   said   vouchers,  to  an 

amount  not  to  exceed  twenty  dollars  in  any  one  year,  in  favor 

of  any  district,  or,  in  case   of  any  town   not  divided  into 

districts,  at  the  rate  of  not  more  than  ten  dollars  for  each 

school,  to  an  amount  not  to  exceed  two  hundred  dollars  in 

any  one  year :    Prodded,  that  the  gross  amount  in  any  one 

fiscal  year  shall  not  exceed  three  thousand  dollars. 

SEC.  9.     In  case  the  number  and  amount  of  applications  in 

any  one  fiscal  year  shall  exceed  the  limit  of  the  appropria- 

tion,  the  commissioner  of  public  schools  shall  record  the  date 

>f  each  application,  and  in  the  apportionment  for  the  follow- 

ng  year  such  recorded  applications  shall  have  the  preference 

n  the  order  of  their  dates. 

SEC.  10.     There  shall  be  an  annual  appropriation  for  the  ^JSSlna^?ro' 
support  and  maintenance  of  evening  schools  in  the  several  school? 
lowns  of  this  state,  under  the  general    supervision   of   the 
state  board  of  education,  who  shall  apportion  said  appropria- 
tion annually  among  the  several  towns  and  draw  orders  there- 
*or  on  the  general  treasurer. 


LAWS  PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  54. 


CHAPTER  54. 

Of  the  Powers   and   Duties   of  Towns   and  of  the    Town 
Treasurer  and  Town  Clerk  Relative  to  Public  Schools. 


Town  to  main- 
tain its  schools, 
with  or  with- 
out districts. 


Districts  may 
be  established. 


Schoolhouses, 
how  to  be 
provided. 


Towns  may 
abolish  all 
school 
districts. 


SECTION 

1.  Towns  to  maintain  schools  with  or 

without  districts. 

2.  Towns  may  be  divided  into  districts. 

3.  Schoolhouses,  how  to  be  provided. 

4.  Towns  may  abolish  school  districts. 

5.  Powers   and   liabilities   of   discon- 

tinued district. 

6.  Control  of  public  schools  to  then 

vest  in  school  committee. 

7.  School  committee,  how  and  when 

chosen. 

8.  Superintendent,  how  appointed,  his 

duties  and  compensation. 

9.  Town  treasurer  to  receive  and  keep 

account  of  school  money. 


SECTION 

10.  To    submit   statement    of    school 

money  to  committee. 

11.  To  transmit  statement  of  money 

raised  and  paid  out,  to  commis- 
sioner. 

12.  Town  clerk  to  record  boundaries 

of  districts,  and  distribute  school 
documents. 

13.  Annual  census  of  children  of  school 

age  to  be  taken. 

14.  Blanks,  by  whom  provided  and  to 

call  for  what  information. 

15.  Census  returns,  how  arranged  and 

disposed  of. 


SECTION  1.  Every  town  shall  establish  and  maintain,  with 
or  without  forming  districts,  a  sufficient  number  of  public 
schools,  at  convenient  places,  under  the  management  of  the 
school  committee,  subject  to  the  supervision  of  the  commis- 
sioner of  public  schools  as  provided  by  this  title. 

SEC.  2.  Any  town  may  be  divided  by  a  vote  thereof,  into 
school  districts. 

SEC.  3.  Any  town  may  vote,  in  a  meeting  notified  for  that 
purpose,  to  provide  Schoolhouses,  together  with  the  necessary 
fixtures  and  appendages  thereof,  in  all  the  districts,  if  there 
be  districts,  at  the  common  expense  of  the  town  :  Provided, 
that  if  any  district  shall  provide,  at  its  own  expense,  a  school- 
house  approved  by  the  school  committee,  such  district  shall 
not  be  liable  to  be  taxed  by  the  town  to  provide  or  repair 
Schoolhouses  for  the  other  districts. 

SEC.  4.     Any  town  may  at  any  town  meeting,  or  at  district 
meetings  for  the  election  of  town  officers,  the  subject  having 
been  duly  inserted  in  the  warrant  for  said  meeting  or  meel 


Chap.  54.]      DUTIES  OF  TOWNS  TO  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS.  39 

ings,  abolish  all  of  the  school  districts  therein  ;  and  forth- 
with all  title  and  interest  in  all  of  the  schoolhouses,  land, 
furniture,  apparatus  and  other  property  which  was  vested  in 
the  several  districts  shall  be  vested  in  the  town.  The 
property  so  taken  by  the  town  shall  be  appraised  bv  a  com-  District 

property,  how 

mission  of  three  disinterested  persons  to  be  appointed  by  the  aPPraised  ; 

common  pleas  division  of  the  supreme  court  in  the  county  in 

which  such  town  is  situated,  and,  at  the  next  annual  assess- 

ment of  taxes  thereafter,  a  tax  shall  be  levied  upon  the  whole 

town  equal  to  the  amount  of  said  appraisal  ;  and  there  shall   remitSuo 

be  remitted  to  the  taxpayers  of  each  district  their  propor- 

tional share  of  the  appraised  value  of  the  school  property  in 

such  district  :     Provided,  that  if  any  district  be  in  debt,  and   District  debts. 

said  debt  be  assumed  by  the  town,  the  amount  of  said  debt 

shall  be  deducted  from  the  whole  amount  to  be  remitted  to 

the  taxpayers  of  said  district.     If,  however,  the  parties  in  in- 

terest prefer,  the  differences  in  the  value  of  the  property  of  the 

several  districts  may  be  adjusted  in  such  manner  as  they  may 

agree  upon. 

SEC.  5.     Upon  the  abolition  or  discontinuance  of  any  dis-   Powers  and 

liabilities  of  a 

trict,  its  corporate  powers  and  liabilities  shall  continue  and 
remain  so  far  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  enforcement  of  its 
rihts  and  duties. 


SEC.  6.     When  a  town  shall  abolish  the   school   districts  control  of  the 

public  schools 

thereni,  the  entire  control,  management  and  care  of  all  the  to  then  vest  in 

school 

public  school  interests  of   the  town  shall  be  vested  in  the  oommittee- 
school  committee  of  that  town,  and  the  number  of  the  school 
committee  in  any  town  abolishing  the  district  system  may 
be,  by  vote  of  the  town,  increased  to  a  number  not  exceeding 
seven. 

SEC.  7.     The  school  committee  of  each  town  shall  consist  school  com- 

mittee, how 

of  three  residents  of  the  town,  or  of  such  number  as  at  the 
present  time  constitute    the   committee,  and  they  shall   be 


LAWS   PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  54. 


Superinten- 
dents of 
schools,  how 
and  when  to 
be  elected. 


Town 

treasurer  to 
receive  school 
money,  and 
account 
therefor. 


divided  as  equally  as  may  be  into  three  classes,  whose  several 
terms  of  office  shall  expire  at  the  end  of  three  years  from  the 
dates  of  their  respective  elections  ;  and  in  the  case  of  the  first 
election  of  a  school  committee  under  this  chapter,  the  terms 
of  office  of  the  three  classes  shall  be  respectively  one  year^ 
two  years  and  three  years;  the  classes  and  their  terms  of 
office  to  be  determined  by  lot  by  the  committee  at  their  first 
meeting-  after  their  election.  As  the  office  of  each  class  shall 
become  vacant,  such  vacancy  or  vacancies  shall  be  filled  by 
the  town  at  its  annual  town  meeting  for  the  election  of  state 
or  town  officers,  or  by  the  town  council  at  its  next  meeting 
thereafter.  In  case  of  a  vacancy  by  death,  resignation,  or 
otherwise  than  as  is  above  provided,  such  vacancy  shall  be 
filled  by  the  town  council  until  the  next  annual  town  meet- 
ing for  state  or  town  officers,  when  it  shall  be  filled  for  the 
unexpired  term  thereof  as  is  above  provided. 

SEC.  8.  The  school  committee  of  each  town  shall  elect  a 
superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of  the  town,  to  perform, 
under  the  advice  and  direction  of  the  committee,  such  duties, 
and  to  exercise  such  powers,  as  the  committee  shall  assign 
him,  and  to  receive  such  compensation  out  of  the  town 
treasury  as  the  town  shall  vote.  Said  superintendent  shall 
be  elected  at  the  first  regular  meeting  of  the  school  com- 
mittee succeeding  the  annual  election  of  school  committee ; 
but  the  committee  shall  have  power  to  fill  a  vacancy  at  any 
meeting  duly  called. 

SEC.  9.  The  town  treasurer  shall  receive  the  money  due 
the  town  from  the  state  for  public  schools,  and  shall  keep  a 
separate  account  of  all  money  appropriated  by  the  state  or 
town  or  otherwise  for  public  schools  in  the  town,  and  shall 
pay  the  same  to  the  order  of  the  school  committee,  and  he 
shall  credit  the  public  school  account,  on  the  first  Monday  of 
May  in  each  year,  with  the  total  amount  of  money  received 


Chap.  54.]      DUTIES  OF  TOWNS  TO  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS.  41 

by  him  for  poll  taxes  during  the  year  ending-  the  thirtieth 
day  of  April  last  preceding. 

SEC.  10.     The  town  treasurer  shall,  before  the  first  day  of  TO  submit 

**  St<ltGID6n.t 

July  in  each  year,  submit  to  the  school  committee  a  state- 


ment  of  all  moneys  applicable  to  the  support  of  public 
schools  for  the  current  school  year,  specifying  the  sources  of 
the  same. 

SEC.  11.     The  town  treasurer  shall,  on  or  before  the  first  Also  to  com- 

missioner of 

day  of  July,  annually,  transmit  to  the  commissioner  of  public  public  schools- 

schools  a  certificate  of  the  amount  which  the  town  has  voted 

to  raise  by  tax  for  the  support   of  public   schools  for  the 

current  year  ;  and  also  a  statement  of  the  amount  paid  out 

to  the  order  of  the  school  committee,  and  from  what  sources 

it  was  derived,  for  the  year  ending  the  thirtieth  day  of  April 

next  preceding  ;  and  until  such  return  is  made  to  the  com- 

missioner, he  may,  in  his  discretion,  withhold  the  order  for 

the  money  in  the  state  treasury  belonging  to  such  town. 

SEC.  12.     The  town  clerk  shall  record  the  boundaries  of  Town  clerk  to 

keep  record  of 

school  districts  and  all  alterations  thereof  in  a  book  to  be  schUonoiari 
kept  for  that  purpose,  and  shall  distribute  such  school  docu-  distribute 

school 

nients  and  blanks  as  shall  be  sent  to  him,  to  the  persons  for  documents. 
whom  they  are  intended. 

SEC.  13.     The  town  clerks,  or  some  person  whom  the  board  oS^of 
of  aldermen  of  any  city,  or  the  town  council  of  any  town,  s 
shall  appoint  for  the  purpose,  shall  annually,  in  the  month  of 
January,  take  or  cause  to  be  taken  a  census  of  all  persons 
between  the  ages  of  five  and  fifteen  years,  inclusive,  residing 
within  the  limits  of  their  respective  towns  on  the  first  day  of 
said  January. 

SEC.  14.     The  blank  forms  required  to  carry  out  the  re-  census  forms 

to  be  furnished 

quirements  of  the  preceding  section  shall  be  furnished  by  the 
commissioner  of  public  schools  to  each  town  on  or  before  the 

6 


42 


LAWS   PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  55. 


Penalty  for 
refusal  to  give 
information. 


Census  returns 
to  be  deposited 
where,  and 
certified  to 
school  com- 
missioner. 


first  day  of  December  in  each  year,  and  they  shall  call  in 
substance  for  the  following  information,  namely,  the  name, 
age,  number  of  weeks'  attendance  upon  any  school,  parents' 
name  and  residence,  of  each  person  enumerated ;  and  if  any 
parent  or  guardian  shall  refuse  to  give  the  above  information 
in  regard  to  his  children  or  wards,  or  shall  knowingly  and 
wilfully  falsify  such  information,  he  shall  be  fined  not  exceed- 
ing twenty  dollars. 

SEC.  15.  The  returns  of  said  census  shall  be  alphabetically 
arranged  and  deposited  in  the  hands  of  the  school  committees 
of  the  several  towns  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  March  in 
each  year ;  and  the  receipt  of  the  chairman  or  clerk  of  the 
school  committee  to  the  effect  that  the  above  returns  hav< 
been  so  received  by  him  shall  be  forwarded  to  the  commit 
sioner  of  public  schools  before  he  shall  draw  Ids'  order  for 
the  payment  of  any  portion  of  the  public  money  to  that  kr 


CHAPTER  55. 


Of  the  Powers  of  School  Districts. 


SECTION 


1.  School    districts    are    bodies    cor- 

porate. 

2.  Powers  of  school  districts. 

3.  District  may  build  and  repair  school- 

houses. 

4.  May  raise  money  by  tax. 

5.  Officers  of  the  district. 

6.  Powers  and  duties  of  district  officers. 


SECTION 

7.  District  taxes,  how  collected. 

8.  Town  collector  may  collect. 

9.  Districts   neglecting   to    organis 

committee    may     establish    th< 
school. 

10.    District  may  devolve  its  duties  ai 
powers  on  the  committee. 


School 
districts  are 
bodies  cor- 
porate, and 
now  . 

distinguished.      designation. 


SECTION  1.    Every  school  district  shall  be  a  body  corp< 
rate,  and  shall  be  known  by  its  number  or  other   suitabL 


General 

powers  of  the 

district* 


SEC.  2.  Every  school  district  may  prosecute  and  defend  in 
a^  acti°ns  i*1  whicn  said  district  or  its  officers  are  parties, 
may  purchase,  receive,  hold  and  convey,  real  or  personal 


-Chap.  55.]  POWERS  OF  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS.  43 

property  for  school  purposes,  and  may  establish  and  maintain 
a  school  library. 

SEC.  3.     Every  such  district  may  build,  purchase,  hire  and  and°use  amf8' 
repair  schoolhouses,  and  supply  the  same  with  blackboards,  c 
maps,  furniture  and  other  necessary  and  useful  appendages, 
and  may  insure  the  house  and  appendages  against  damage 
by  fire  :  Provided,  that  the  erection  and  repairs  of  the  school- 
house  shall  be  made  according  to  the  plans  approved  by  the 
school  committee  or,   on   appeal,  by  the   commissioner  of 
public  schools. 

SEC.  4.     Every  such  district  may  raise  money  by  tax  on  powers  of 

taxation. 

the  ratable  property  of  the  district,  to  support  public  schools, 
and  to  carry  out  the  powers  given  them  by  any  of  the  pro- 
visions of  this  title :  Provided,  that  the  amount  of  the  tax 
shall  be  approved  by  the  school  committee  of  the  town. 

SEC.  5.  Every  such  district  shall  annually  elect  a  moder-  officers  of 
ator,  a  clerk,  a  treasurer,  a  collector  and  either  one  or  three 
trustees,  as  the  district  shall  decide,  and  may  fill  vacancies  in 
either  of  said  offices  at  any  legal  meeting.  The  moderator 
may  administer  the  oath  of  office  to  all  the  other  officers  of 
the  school  district.  (See  Chapter  304,  Public  Laws.) 

SEC.  6.     The  clerk, 'collector  and  treasurer,  within  their  re-  Powers  and 
spective  school  districts,  shall  have  the  like  power,  and  shall  officers. 
perform,  like  duties,  as  the  clerk,  collector  and  treasurer  of  a 
town  ;  but  the  clerk,  collector  and  treasurer  need  not  give 
bond,  unless  required  by  the  district. 

SEC.  7.    All  district  taxes  shall  be  collected  by  the  district  collection  of 

district  taxes. 

or  town  collector,  in  the  same  manner  as  town  taxes  are 
collected. 

SEC.  S.    Any  district  may  vote  to  place  the  collection  of 
any  district  tax  in  the  hands  of  the  collector  of  town  taxes, 


44 


LAWS   PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  56. 


School  com- 
mittee to 
organize  the 
school  when. 


District  may 
devolve  its 
powers  on 
school 
committee. 


who  shall  thereupon  be  fully  authorized  to  proceed  and 
collect  the  same,  upon  giving  bond  therefor  to  the  district 
satisfactory  to  the  school  committee. 

SEC.  9.  If  any  school  district  shall  neglect  to  organize,  or, 
if  organized,  shall  for  any  space  of  six  months  neglect  to  es- 
tablish a  school  and  employ  a  teacher,  the  school  committee 
of  the  town  may  themselves  or  by  an  agent  establish  a  school 
in  the  district  schoolhouse,  or  elsewhere  in  the  district,  in 
their  discretion,  and  employ  a  teacher. 

SEC.  10.  Any  district  may,  with  the  consent  of  the  school 
committee,  devolve  all  the  powers  and  duties  relating  ta 
public  schools  in  the  district  on  the  school  committee. 


Notice  of 
meeting  for 
organization, 
or  of  other 
meetings,  by 
whom  to  be* 
given. 


Annnal 
meeting. 


CHAPTER  56. 
Of  District  Meetings. 


SECTION 

1.  Meetings,  notice  of,  how  and  by 

whom  to  be  given. 

2.  Annual  meeting,  when  held. 

3.  Special  meetings,  how  called. 

4.  District  meeting,  where  held. 


SECTION 

5.  Notice  of  time  and  place,  how  to  be 

given. 

6.  Qualification  of  voters. 

7.  Clerk  to  record  names  of  voters  on 

request. 


SECTION  1.  Notice  of  the  time,  place  and  object  of  hold- 
ing the  first  meeting  of  a  district  for  organization  or  for  a 
meeting,  either  annual  or  special,  to  choose  officers  or  to 
transact  any  other  business,  shall  be  given  by  the  trustees  or, 
in  case  of  the  death,  removal,  resignation  or  disability  of  the 
trustees,  by  the  clerk  of  the  district ;  in  case  there  be  no 
trustee  or  clerk  authorized  to  call  a  meeting  such  notice  shall 
be  given  by  the  school  committee  of  the  town. 

SEC.  2.  Every  school  district  when  organized,  shall  hold 
an  annual  meeting  in  the  month  of  April  of  each  year  for 
choice  of  officers  and  for  the  transaction  of  any  other  business 
relating  to  schools. 


Chap.  56.]  DISTRICT  MEETINGS.  45 

SEC.  3.     The  trustees  or,  in  case   of  the   death,  removal    special  meet- 

ilia's,  now 

resignation  or  disability  of  the  trustees,  the  clerk  may  call  a  called- 
special  meeting  for  election  or  other  business  at  any  time, 
and  shall  call  one  to  be  held  within  seven  days  on  the  written 
request  of  any  five  qualified  electors  stating  the  object  for 
which  they  wish  it  called  ;  and  if  the  trustees  or  clerk,  as 
above  provided,  neglect  or  refuse  to  call  a  special  meeting 
when  so  requested,  the  school  committee  may  call  it  and  fix 
the  time  therefor:  Provided,  that  no  special  district  meeting  consent  of 

'     school  corn- 
shall  be  called  without  the  consent  of  the  school  committee,   mu"||  r£hen 

to  consider  any  subject  which  shall  have  been  acted  on  by 
the  district  at  any  time  within  six  months  previous  to  the 
time  of  such  proposed  meeting. 

SEC.  4.     District  meetings  shall  be  held  in  the  schoolhouse,  District  meet- 

'    ing  to  be  held, 

unless  otherwise  ordered  by  the  district.  If  there  be  no  where- 
schoolhouse  or  place  appointed  by  the  district  for  its  meet- 
ings, the  trustees  or,  in  case  of  the  death,  removal,  resigna- 
tion or  disability  of  the  trustees,  the  clerk,  and,  if  there  be 
no  trustees  or  clerk,  the  school  committee,  shall  determine 
the  place,  which  shall  always  be  within  the  district. 

SEC.  5.  Notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  every  annual  j^Jf'110* 
meeting,  and  of  the  time,  place  and  object  of  every  special 
meeting,  shall  be  given,  either  by  publishing  the  same  in  a 
newspaper  published  in  the  district,  or  by  posting  the  same 
in  two  or  more  public  places  in  the  district  for  five  days 
before  holding  the  same. 

SEC.  6.     Every  person  residing  in  the  district  may  vote  in   Qualification 

of  voters. 

district  meetings  to  the  same  extent  and  with  the  same  re- 
strictions as  he  might  at  the  time  vote  in  town  meeting ;  but 
no  person  shall  vote  upon  any  question  of  taxation  of  prop- 
erty, or  expending  money  raised  thereby,  unless  he  shall 
have  paid  or  be  liable  to  pay,  a  portion  of  the  tax. 

SEC.  7.     The  clerk  of  the  district  shall  record  the  number 


46 


LAWS   PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  57. 


District  clerk 
to  make 
record  of 
votes  taken, 
if  requested. 


and  names  of  the  persons  voting,  and  on  which  side  of  the 
question,  at  the  request  of  any  qualified  voter. 


Adjoining 
districts  may 
establish  an 
advanced 
school. 


Such  districts 
are  a  school 
district  as  to 
such  school. 


Organization. 


CHAPTER  57. 

Of  Joint  School  Districts. 


SECTION 


1.  Adjoining  districts  may  establish  ad- 

vanced school. 

2.  Such  districts  to   constitute  a  dis- 

trict as  to  such  school. 

3.  Organization. 

4.  Public  money,  how  drawn. 

5.  Adjoining  districts  in  the  same  town 

may  consolidate. 

6.  To  receive  public  money  as  if  not 

united. 

7.  Organization. 

8.  Adjoining    districts,    or    parts,    in 


SECTION 

adjoining  towns  may  be  formed 
into  joint  districts,  and   discon- 
tinued. 
9.    Organization. 

10.  Powers  of  such  joint  district. 

11.  Public  money  to  be  apportioned. 

12.  Corporate  property,  how  owned. 

13.  Apportionment,    when   district   is 

divided. 

14.  Payment  when,  by  part  of  a  district 

added  to  district. 


SECTION  1.  Any  two  or  more  adjoining  school  districts  in 
the  same  or  adjoining  towns  may,  by  a  concurrent  vote,  es- 
tablish a  school  for  the  older  and  more  advanced  children  of 
such  districts. 

SEC.  2.  Such  associating  districts  shall  constitute  a  school 
district  for  the  purposes  of  providing  a  schoolhouse,  fuel, 
furniture  and  apparatus,  and  for  the  election  of  a  board  of 
trustees,  to  consist  of  one  member  from  each  district  so 
associating,  and  for  levying  a  tax  for  school  purposes,  with 
all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  a  school  district,  so  far  as 
such  school  is  concerned. 

SEC.  3.  The  time  and  place  for  the  meeting  for  organiza- 
tion of  such  associate  district  may  "be  fixed  by  the  school 
committees,  and  any  one  or  more  of  the  associating  districts 
may  delegate  to  the  trustees  of  such  school  the  care  anc 
management  of  its  primary  school. 


SEC.  4.     The  school  committee  of  the  town   or  towns  in 


Chap.  57.]  JOINT  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS.  47 

which  such  school  shall  be  established,  shall  draw  an  order  Public  money, 
in  favor  of  the  trustees  of  such  school,  to  be  paid  out  of  the   drawn. 
public  money  appropriated  to  each  district  interested  in  such 
school,  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  scholars  from  each. 

SEC.  5.     Any  two  or  more  adjoining  school  districts  in  the   Adjoining 
same  town  may,  by  concurrent  vote,  with  the  approbation  of  same  tQwn 

may  con- 

the  school  committee,  unite  and  be  consolidated  into  one  solidate- 
district  for  the  purpose  of  supporting  public  schools,  and 
such  consolidated  district  shall  have  all  the  powers  of  a  single 
district. 

SEC.  6.     Such  consolidated  district  shall  be  entitled  to  re-  Entitled  to 

state  aid  as  if 

ceive  the  same  proportion  of  public  money  as  such  districts  ™Mated 
would  receive  if  not  united. 

SEC.  7.     The  mode  of  organizing  such  consolidated  dis-  organization, 
trict  and  calling  the  first  meeting  thereof  shall  be  regulated 
or  prescribed  by  the  school  committee,  and  notice  thereof 
given  as  prescribed  in  section  five  of  chapter  fifty-six. 

SEC.  8.     Two  or  more  adjoining  districts,  or  parts  of  dis-  Adjoining 

districts  or 

tricts,  in  adjoining  towns  may  be  formed  into  a  joint  school  Jdjoininege°fin 
district  by  the  school  committees  of  such  towns  concurring  foroJedmor  be 
therein  ;  and  all  joint  districts  which  have  been  or  shall  be  asjomt'schooi 

districts. 

formed  may  by  them  be  altered  or  discontinued. 

SEC.  9.     The  meeting  for  organization  of  such  joint  dis-  organization. 
trict  shall  be  called  by  the  school  committees  of  such  towns, 
and  notice  thereof  shall  be  given  as  prescribed  in  section  five 
of  chapter  fifty-six. 


SEC.  10.     Such  joint  district  shall  have  all  the  powers  of  a 
single  school  district,  and  shall  be  regulated  in  the  same  district- 
manner,  and  shall  be  subject  to  the  supervision  and  manage- 
ment of   the  school  committee  of  the  town  in  which  the 
school  is  located. 


48 


LAWS   PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  58. 


State  aid  to  be 
apportioned. 


Corporate 
property. 


Apportion- 
ment, when 
district  is 
divided. 


Contribution, 
when,  by  part 
of  a  district 
added  to 
district. 


SEC.  11.  A  whole  district  making  a  portion  of  such  joint 
district  shall  be  entitled  to  its  proportion  of  public  money, 
in  the  same  manner  as  if  it  had  remained  a  single  district ; 
and  whenever  part  of  a  district  is  taken  to  form  a  portion  of 
such  joint  district,  the  school  committee  of  the  town  of 
which  such  district  is  a  part  shall  assign  to  it  its  reasonable 
proportion. 

SEC.  12.  Whenever  any  two  or  more  districts  shall  be 
consolidated,  the  new  district  shall  own  all  the  corporate 
property  of  the  several  districts. 

SEC.  13.  Whenever  a  district  is  divided  and  a  portion 
taken  from  it,  the  funds  and  property,  or  the  income  and  pro- 
ceeds thereof,  shall  be  divided  among  the  several  parts  in 
such  manner  as  the  school  committee  of  the  town  or  towns 
to  which  the  districts  belong  may  determine. 

SEC.  14.  Whenever  a  part  of  one  district  is  added  to 
another  district  or  part  of  a  district  owning  a  schoolhouse  or 
other  property,  such  part  shall  pay  to  the  district  or  part  of 
a  district  to  which  it  is  added,  if  demanded,  such  sum  as  the 
school  committee  may  determine,  towards  paying  for  such 
schoolhouse  and  other  property. 


CHAPTER  58. 
Of  the  Levy  of  District  Taxes. 


SECTION 

1.  District  taxes,  how  levied. 

2.  Town  assessors  to  assess  value  of 

property  in  what  cases. 

3.  Notice  of  assessment. 

4.  Commissioner  in  certain  cases  may 

order  assessment. 

5.  Errors   in    assessment,    how    cor- 

rected. 


SECTION 

6.  Abatement  of  taxes,  when  and  how 

made. 

7.  Schoolhouse  taxes  and  expenses  by 

joint   districts,  by  whom   to  be 
approved. 

8.  Assessment  of  taxes  in  joint  or  as- 

sociated districts. 


SECTION  1.     District  taxes  shall  be  levied  on  the  ratable 


Chap.  58.]  LEVY  OF  DISTRICT  TAXES.  49 

property  of  the  district,  according  to  its  value  in  the  town   District  taxes, 
assessment  then  last  made,  unless  the  district  shall  direct  levied. 
such  taxes  to  be  levied  according  to  the  next  town  assess- 
ment ;  and  no  notice  thereof  shall  be  required  to  be  given  by 
the  trustees. 

SEC.  2.  The  trustees  of  any  school  district,  if  unable  to  aS$?Sue  of 
agree  with  the  parties  interested  with  regard  to  the  valuation  whffcase!11 
of  any  property  in  such  district,  shall  call  upon  one  or  more 
of  the  town  assessors  not  interested,  and  not  residing  in  the 
district,  to  assess  the  value  of  such  property  so  situated,  in 
the  following  cases,  namely  :  Whenever  any  real  estate  in  the 
district  is  assessed  in  the  town  tax  bill  with  real  estate  out 
of  the  district,  so  that  there  is  no  distinct  or  separate  value 
upon  it ;  whenever  any  person  possessing  personal  property 
shall  remove  into  the  district  after  the  last  town  assessment ; 
whenever  a  division  and  apportionment  of  a  tax  shall  become 
necessary  by  reason  of  the  death  of  any  person,  or  the  sale 
of  such  property;  whenever  a  person  has  invested  personal 
property  in  real  estate  and  shall  call  upon  the  trustees  to 
place  a  value  thereon ;  and  whenever  property  shall  have 
been  omitted  in  the  town  valuation. 

SEC.  3.  The  assessors  shall  give  notice  of  such  assessment  assessment. 
by  posting  up  notices  thereof  for  ten  days  next  prior  to  such 
assessment  in  three  public  places  in  the  district ;  and  after 
notice  is  given  as  aforesaid,  no  person  neglecting  to  appeal- 
before  the  assessors  shall  have  any  remedy  for  being  over- 
taxed. 

SEC.  4.     If  a  district  tax  shall  be  voted,  assessed  and  ap-  when  commis- 
sioner of  public 
proved  of,  and  a  contract  legally  entered  into  under  it,  or  ^rderls  may 

such  contract  be  legally  entered  into   without  such   vote,  assessment- 
assessment,  or  approval,  and  said  district  shall  thereafter 
neglect  or  refuse  to  proceed  to  assess  and  collect  a  tax  suffi- 
cient to   fulfill  such  contract,  the  commissioner  of  public 


50 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.  [Chap.  58. 


Errors,  how 
corrected. 


Abatement  of 
taxes,  when 
and  how  made. 


Schoolhouse 
taxes  and 
expenses  by 
joint  district, 
how  approved. 


Assessment  of 
taxes  in  joint 
or  associated 
districts. 


schools,  after  notice  to  and  hearing*  of  the  parties,  may  ap- 
point assessors  to  assess  a  tax  for  that  purpose,  and  may 
issue  a  warrant  to  the  collector  of  the  district,  or  to  a  col- 
lector by  him  appointed,  authorizing  and  requiring-  him  to 
proceed  and  collect  such  tax. 

SEC.  5.  Errors  in  assessing  a  tax  may  be  corrected,  or  the 
tax  re-assessed,  in  such  manner  as  may  be  directed  or  ap- 
proved by  the  commissioner  of  public  schools. 

SEC.  6.  Whenever  any  person  who  has  paid  a  tax  for 
building  or  repairing  a  schoolhouse  in  one  district  shall,  by 
alteration  of  the  boundaries  thereof,  become  liable  to  pay  a 
tax  in  any  other  district,  if  such  person  cannot  agree  with 
the  district,  such  abatement  of  the  tax  may  be  made  as  the 
school  committee,  or  in  case  of  a  district  composed  from 
different  towns,  as  the  commissioner  of  public  schools,  may 
deem  just  and  proper. 

SEC.  7.  "Whenever  a  joint  district  shall  vote  to  build  or 
repair  a  schoolhouse  by  tax,  the  amount  of  the  tax  and  the 
plan  and  specifications  of  the  building  and  repairs  shall  be 
approved  by  the  school  committees  of  the  several  towns,  or, 
in  case  of  their  disagreement,  by  the  commissioner  of  public 
schools. 

SEC.  8.  In  case  of  assessing  a  tax  by  a  joint  or  associate 
district,  if  the  town  assessments  be  made  on  different  princi- 
ples, or  the  relative  value  be  not  the  same,  the  relative  value 
and  proportion  shall  be  ascertained  by  one  or  more  persons, 
to  be  appointed  by  the  commissioner  of  public  schools,  and 
the  assessment  shall  be  made  accordingly. 


Chap.  59.]  TRUSTEES   OF  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS. 


51 


CHAPTER   59. 

Of  the  Trustees  of  School  Districts. 


SECTION 


SECTION 


Trustees  to  have  charge  of  the 
school  property,  and  to  employ 
teachers. 

To  provide  school  facilii  ies,  visit  the 
schools,  and  report. 

To  furnish  bookcases. 

To  make  out  tax  bills  and  issue  tax 
warrants. 

To  make  returns  to  school  com- 
mittee. 

The  trustees  to  receive  no  compen- 


sation out  of  the  school  moneys 
for  their  services. 

May  admit  scholars  from  without 
the  town  or  state,  when. 

School  committee,  similarly  em- 
powered, if  town  is  not  divided 
into  districts. 

Disposition  of  money  received  for 
tuition. 

Attendance  of  scholars  from  with- 
out the  district,  where  reckoned. 


SECTION  1.     The  trustees  of  school  districts  shall  have  the 
custody  of  the  schoolhouse  and  other  district  property,  and  property,  and 
shall  employ  one  or  more  qualified  teachers  for  every  fifty  teachers, 
scholars  in  average  daily  attendance. 

SEC.  2.     The  trustees  shall  provide  schoolrooms  and  fuel,  srchpoiovld< 
and  shall  visit  the  schools  twice  at  least  during  each  term    the  schools 

and  report. 

and  notify  the  committee  or  superintendent  of  the  time  of 
opening  and  closing  the  schools. 

SEC.  3.  The  trustees  shall  provide  a  suitable  cabinet  or 
bookcase  in  each  schoolroom,  for  the  reception  and  care  of 
such  text-books  and  school  supplies  as  may  be  furnished  by 
the  school  committee. 

SEC.  4.     The  trustees  shall  make  out  the  tax  bill  against 
the  persons  liable  to  pay  the  same,  and  deliver  the  same  to   warrants. 
the  collector  with  a  warrant  by  them  signed  annexed  thereto, 
requiring  him  to  collect   and   pay   over   the   same   to   the 
treasurer  of  the  district. 


SEC.  5.     The  trustees  shall  make  returns  to   the  school 
committee  in  manner  and  form  prescribed  by  them  or  by  the   committee, 
commissioner,  or  as  may  be  required  by  law,  and  perform  all 


52  LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.  [Chap.  59. 

other  lawful  acts  required  of  them  by  the  district,  or  neces- 
sary to  carry  into  full  effect  the  powers  and  duties  of  dis- 
tricts. 


compensation        ^EC>  6>     ^ie  trustees  snall  receive  110  compensation  for 
school  moneys,  services  out  of  the  money  received  from  either  the  state  or 

town  appropriations,  nor  in  any  way,  unless  raised  by  tax  by 

the  district. 


trustees   °^  any  school  district  may  allow 
S§ta?e,when.   scholars  from  without  the  town  or  the  state  to  attend  the 
public  schools  of  such  district,  on  such  terms  as  the  trustees 
may   determine  :     Provided,  that  such   terms   shall   be   ap- 
proved by  the  school  committee. 

same  subject:         SEC.  8.     Whenever  a  town  shall  not  be  divided  into  school 

School  com- 

whenemay'  districts,  or  whenever  public  schools  shall  be  provided  with- 
out reference  to  such  division,  the  school  committee  may 
exercise  the  powers  provided  in  the  preceding  section  to  be 
exercised  by  trustees. 

Tuition  money,       SEC.  9.     All  money  s  received  for  tuition  as  hereinbefore 

how  to  be  J 

applied.  provided  shall  be  paid  into  the  district  or  town  treasury,  as 

the  case  may  be,  and  shall  be  used  for  school  purposes  only. 

such  attend-  SEC.  10.  No  attendance  upon  the  public  schools  authorized 
wherened'  by  the  preceding  three  sections  shall  be  reckoned  in  determin- 
ing the  average  attendance  for  the  purpose  of  regulating  the 
distribution  of  school  money  ;  but  such  average  attendance 
shall  be  returned  to  the  district  where  such  scholars  reside, 
and  be  there  reckoned  with  the  average  attendance  of  the 
schools  of  that  district,  upon  demand  by  the  trustee  thereof. 


Chap.  60.]   POWERS  AND  DUTIES  OF  SCHOOL  COMMITTEES. 


53 


CHAPTER  60. 


Of  the  Powers  and  Duties  of  School  Committees'. 


SECTION 

1.  Chairman  and  clerk,  how  chosen 

and  removed. 

2.  Stated  meetings,  when  held. 

3.  Committee  may  alter  and  discon- 

tinue districts. 

4.  To  locate  all  schoolhouses. 

5.  Land  for  schoolhouse  sites,  if  taken 

without   owners'    consent,    how 
appraised. 

6.  Owner  of   land  may  petition  for   j 

relief. 

7.  Instruction  to  be  given  in  physi-    | 

blogy  and  hygiene. 

8.  Committee  to  examine  teachers; 

and  to  annul  certificates,  when. 

9.  To  visit  schools,  when  and  how 

often. 

10.  To  make  rules  and  regulations  for 

schools. 

11.  May  authorize  children  to  attend 

school    in    adjoining    town    or 
district. 


SECTION 

12.  May  suspend  pupils. 

13.  Committee  to  manage  schools,  if 

town  is  not  divided  into  districts. 

14.  Apportionment  of  the  town's  share 

of  the  state  school  money  to  the 
districts. 

15.  Notice   of   apportionments   to  be 

given  to  trustees. 

16—18.  Orders  on  town  treasurer,  in 
what  cases  and  on  what  condi- 
tions to  be  given. 

19.  Money  forfeited  or  unexpended,  to 

be  divided. 

20.  Annual  report  of  school  committee. 

21.  Expense  of  printing  report,  how  to 

be  paid. 

22.  School  committee  to  furnish  books 

and  supplies. 

23.  Change  in  school  books,  how  made. 


SECTION  1.     The   school   committee   of    each    town   shall 
choose  a  chairman  and  clerk,  either  of  whom  may  sign  any  ( 
orders  or  official  papers,  and  may  be  removed  at  the  pleasure 
of  said  committee. 


The  school  committee  of  each  town  shall  hold  at   Meetings  of 

the  school 


SEC.  2. 

least  four  regular  meeting's  in  every  year,  at  such  time  and  committee 
place  'within  the  town  as  the  committee  shall  by  general 
order  fix  and  determine. 

SEC.  3.     The  school  committee  may  alter  and  discontinue   committee 

may  vary 

school  districts,  and  shall  settle  their  boundaries  when  unde-   school  districts 

after  notice 

fined  or  disputed  ;   but  no   change   shall   be   made   in   the   c 
boundaries  of  any  district  except  at  a  meeting,  notice  of 
which,  with  the  proposed  changes,  has  been  posted  upon  the 
schoolhouses  and  sent  to  the  trustees  of  the  districts  whose 
boundaries  are  liable  to  be  affected,  for  at  least  five  days  be- 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.  [Chap.  60, 


^ore  holding  the  same  ;  and  no  new  district  shall  be  formed 
of  new  district,   ^^  less  than  forty  children  between  the  ages  of  four  and 

sixteen,  unless  with  the  approbation  of  the  commissioner  of 
public  schools  ;  and  the  clerk  of  the  committee  shall  transmit 
to  the  town  clerk  a  certified  copy  of  all  votes  affecting  the 
boundary  lines  of  the  districts  immediately  on  the  passage 
thereof. 


Location  of 
the  school- 
houses. 


Land  for  a 
schoolhouse 
site,  taken 
without 
owners'  con- 
sent, is  how 
appraised. 


Persons 
aggrieved  may 
petition  for 
relief  to 
common  pleas 
division. 


SEC.  4.  The  school  committee  shall  locate  all  schoolhouses, 
and  shall  not  abandon  or  change  the  location  of  any  without 
good  cause. 

SEC.  5.  In  case  the  school  committee  shall  fix  upon  a 
location  for  a  schoolhouse  in  any  town  or  district,  or  shall 
determine  that  the  schoolhouse  lot  ought  to  be  enlarged,  and 
the  town  or  district  shall  have  passed  a  vote  to  erect  a  school- 
house,  or  to  enlarge  the  schoolhouse  lot,  and  the  committee 
shall  fix  upon  a  location  for  a  schoolhouse,  and  the  proprietor 
of  the  land  shall  refuse  to  convey  the  same,  or  cannot  agree 
with  the  town  or  district  for  the  price  thereof,  the  school 
committee  of  their  own  motion,  or  on  application  of  the  town 
or  district,  may  appoint  three  disinterested  persons,  who 
shall  notify  the  parties  and  decide  upon  the  valuation  of  the 
land ;  and  upon  the  tender  or  payment  of  the  sum  so  fixed 
on,  to  the  proprietor,  the  title  to  the  land  so  fixed  on  by  the 
school  committee,  not  exceeding  one  acre,  shall  vest  in  the 
town  or  district  for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  thereon  a 
schoolhouse  and  the  necessary  appendages  thereof. 

SEC.  6.  Any  person  aggrieved  thereby  may,  within  six 
months  after  any  tender  as  aforesaid  (but  not  after  any  pay- 
ment as  aforesaid),  petition  the  common  pleas  division  of  the 
supreme  court  in  the  county  for  such  relief  in  the  premises, 
by  way  of  damages  or  otherwise,  as  to  law  and  justice  shall 
appertain,  in  the  manner  and  with  the  same  procedure  pre- 
scribed in  sections  fifteen  and  sixteen  of  chapter  forty-six 


Chap.  60.]     POWERS  AND  DUTIES  OF  SCHOOL  COMMITTEES.  55 

in  the  case  of  petition  for  relief  for  over-assessment  for 
taxes. 

SEC.  7.     The  school  committees  of  the  several  towns  shall   instruction  in 

physiology  and 

make  provision  for  the  instruction  of  the  pupils  in  all  schools   hygu 
supported  wholly,  or  in  part,  by  public  money,  in  physiology 
and  hygiene,  with  special  reference  to  the  effects  of  alcoholic 
liquors,  stimulants  and  narcotics  upon  the  human  system. 

SEC.  8.     The   school    committee   may  examine,  by  them-  committee  to 

examine 

selves  or  by  some  one  or  more  persons  by  them  appointed,   jjjjjers ;  to 
every  applicant  for  the  situation  of    teacher  in  the   public   wheScates' 
schools  of  the  town,  and  may,  after  five  days'  notice  in  writ- 
ing, annul  the  certificate  of  such   as  upon  examination  by 
them  proved  unqualified,  or  will  not  conform  to  the  regula- 
tions of  the  committee,  and  in  such  case  shall  give  immediate 
notice  thereof  to  the  trustee  of  the  district  in  which  such 
teacher  is  employed.     (See  Chap.  544,  Sec.  9-12,  Pub.  Laws.} 

SEC.  9.     The  school  committee  shall  visit,  bv  one  or  more  TO  visit  the 

schools. 

of  their  number,  every  public  school  in  the  town  at  least 
twice  during  each  term,  once  within  two  weeks  of  its  opening 
and  once  within  two  weeks  of  its  close ;  at  which  visits  they 
shall  examine  the  register  and  matters  touching  the  school- 
house,  library,  studies,  books,  discipline,  modes  of  teaching 
and  improvement  of  the  school. 

SEC.  10.     The  school  committee  shall  make  and  cause  to  be  TO  make  rules 

for  the 

put  up  in  each  schoolhouse,  rules  and  regulations  for  the  at-  schools. 
tendance  and  classification  of  the  pupils,  for  the  introduction 
and  use  of  text-books  and  works  of  reference,  and  for  the 
instruction,  government  and  discipline  of  the  public  schools, 
and  shall  prescribe  the  studies  to  be  pursued  therein,  under 
the  direction  of  the  commissioner  of  public  schools. 

SEC.  11.     Whenever  the  school    committee   of   any   town 
shall  find  that  it  is  more  convenient   or  expedient  for  any 


56 


LAWS   PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  60. 


May  authorize 
children  to 
attend  school 
in  adjoining 
town  or 
district. 
See  section  18. 


May  suspend 
pupils. 


To  manage 
schools,  when. 


Apportion- 
ment of  the 
state  school 
money  to  the 
districts. 


Minimum  of 
money  to  each 
school. 


Apportion- 
ment, when  to 
be  made,  and 
what  notice 
given. 


child  residing  in  said  town  to  attend  school  in  an  adjoining 
town  or  district,  said  committee  may  arrange  with  the  school 
authorities  of  such  town  or  district  for  the  attendance  of  such 
child  at  their  schools,  and  may  pay  for  such  tuition  out  of  the 
town  appropriation  for  public  schools.  The  amount  so  paid 
shall  be  used  for  school  purposes  only.  (See  Chap.  oJf4->  Sec. 
3,  Piib.  Laws.} 

SEC.  12.  The  school  committee  may  suspend  during  pleas- 
ure all  pupils  found  guilty  of  incorrigibly  bad  conduct  or  of 
violation  of  the  school  regulations. 

SEC.  13.  Where  a  town  is  not  divided  into  districts,  or 
shall  vote  in  a  meeting  duly  notified  for  that  purpose  to  pro- 
vide schools  without  reference  to  such  division,  the  school 
committee  shall  manage  and  regulate  said  schools,  and  draw 
all  orders  for  the  payment  of  their  expenses. 

SEC.  14.  Whenever  the  public  schools  are  maintained  by 
district  organization,  the  committee  shall  apportion  among 
the  districts,  equally,  according  to  the  number  of  schools 
maintained  in  each,  the  whole  of  the  town's  proportion  of 
the  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  received  from 
the  state,  and  in  addition  thereto  at  least  one  fourth  as  much 
more  from  the  town  appropriation  for  the  support  of  public 
schools ;  the  remainder  of  the  town  appropriation,  and  the 
moneys  received  from  poll  and  dog  taxes,  from  school  funds, 
and  from  other  sources,  shall  be  divided  into  two  equal  parts, 
one  part  to  be  apportioned  to  the  several  districts,  according 
to  the  average  attendance  of  the  schools  therein,  for  the  year 
preceding  ;  the  other  part  to  be  apportioned  at  the  discretion 
of  the  committee  :  Provided  ahvays,  that  the  total  apportion- 
ment for  each  school  shall  not  be  less  than  one  hundred  and 
eighty  dollars. 

SEC.  15.  The  school  committee  shall  make  the  apportion- 
ment among  the  several  districts  as  provided  in  the  preceding 
section  on  or  before  the  first  Monday  of  July  in  each  year, 


.  60.]    POWERS  AND  DUTIES  OF  SCHOOL  COMMITTEES.  57 

and  immediately  thereafter  give  notice  to  the  trustees  of  the 
amount  so  apportioned  to  each  district. 

SEC.  16.     The  school  committee  shall  draw  an  order  on  the  °rders  pn  the 
town  treasurer  in  favor  of  such  districts  only  as  shall  have   districts,  when 
made  a  return  to  them  in  manner  and  form  prescribed  by  thesehoop1 

committee. 

them  or  by  the  commissioner  of  public  schools,  or  as  may  be 
required  by  law,  from  which  it  shall  appear  that  for  the  year 
ending  on  the  first  day  of  May  previous  one  or  more  public 
schools  have  been  kept  for  at  least  six  months  by  a  qualified 
teacher  in  a  schoolhouse  approved  by  the  committee  or  com- 
missioner, that  the  money  designated  "teachers'  monej'," 
received  the  year  previous,  has  been  applied  to  the  wages  of 
teachers  and  to  no  other  purpose,  and  that  the  register 
properly  kept  has  been  deposited  with  the  committee  or  with 
some  person  by  them  appointed  to  receive  the  same. 

SEC.  17.     Such  orders  may  be  made  payable  to  the  trustees  TO  whom 

payable. 

or  their  order,  or  to  the  district  treasurer,  or  teacher  ;  and  if 
the  treasurer  receive  the  money,  he  shall  pay  it  out  to  the 
order  of  the  trustees. 

SEC.  18.     The  school  committee  shall  give  no  such  order,  orders,  when 

to  be  drawn. 

until  they  are  satisfied  that  the  services  have  actually  been  Committee 
performed  for  which  the  money  is  to  be  paid  ;  and  they  shall 


have  power,  in  case  the  average  attendance  of  any  school  see  section  ii. 
falls  below  five,  to  suspend  said  school  in  their  discretion  and 
to  make  such  other  provisions  as  they  may  deem  best  for  the 
attendance  of  the  children,  properly  belonging  to  said  school, 
upon  some  other  public  school  ;  but  such  suspension  shall 
not  work  the  forfeiture  of  the  public  money  to  any  district 
provided  for  by  section  sixteen  of  this  chapter.  The  school 
committee  may  allow  scholars  residing  in  one  district  to 
attend  school  in  any  other  district.  (See  Chap.  344.  Sees.  1, 
7,  S,  Pul>.  Laws.) 

SEC.  19.     At  the  end  of  the  school  year,  any  money  ap- 


58 


LAWS   PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  60, 


Money  for- 
feited or  un- 
expended, to 
be  divided. 


Annual  report 
of  the  school 
committee. 


Printing 
report,  how 
paid  for. 


School 

committee  to 
furnish  books 
and  supplies. 


Change  in  the 
school  books 
how  made. 


propriated  to  any  district  which  shall  be  forfeited  and  the 
forfeiture  not  remitted,  or  which  shall  remain  unexpended, 
shall  be  divided  by  the  committee  among  the  districts  the 
following  year. 

SEC.  20.  The  school  committee  shall  prepare  and  submit 
annually  to  the  commissioner  of  public  schools,  on  or  before 
the  first  day  of  July,  a  report  in  manner  and  form  by  him 
prescribed ;  and  until  such  report  is  made  to  the  commis- 
sioner, he  may  refuse  to  draw  his  order  for  the  money  in  the 
state  treasury  belonging  to  such  town  :  Provided,  that  the 
necessary  blank  for  said  report  has  been  furnished  by  the 
commissioner  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  May  next  pre- 
ceding ;  they  shall  also  prepare  and  submit  annually,  at  the 
annual  town  meeting,  a  report  to  the  town,  setting  forth  their 
doings,  the  state  and  condition  of  the  schools  and  plans  for 
their  improvement,  which  report,  unless  printed,  shall  be 
read  in  open  town  meeting  ;  and  if  printed,  at  least  three 
copies  shall  be  transmitted  to  the  commissioner  on  or  before 
the  first  day  of  July  in  each  year. 

SEC.  21.  The  school  committee  may  reserve  annually  out 
of  the  public  appropriation,  a  sum  not  exceeding  forty  dollars 
to  defray  the  expense  of  printing  their  annual  report. 

SEC.  22.  The  school  committee  of  every  city  and  town 
shall  purchase,  at  the  expense  of  such  city  or  town,  text- 
books and  other  school  supplies  used  in  the  public  schools  • 
and  said  text-books  and  supplies  shall  be  loaned  to  the 
pupils  of  said  public  schools  free  of  charge,  subject  to  sue] 
rules  and  regulations  as  to  care  and  custody  as  the  school 
committee  may  prescribe. 

SEC.  23.  A  change  may  be  made  in  the  school  books  ii 
the  public  schools  of  any  town  by  a  vote  of  two -thirds  of  tli< 
whole  school  committee  ;  and  in  the  city  of  Providence  by 
vote  of  a  majority  of  all  the  members  elected  to  the  school 


Chap.  61.  | 


TEACHERS. 


59 


committed,  notice  of  the  proposed  change  having  been  given 
in  writing1  at  a  previous  regular  meeting  of  said  committee : 
Provided,  that  no  change  be  made  in  any  text-book  in  the 
public  schools  of  any  town  oftener  than  once  in  three  years, 
unless  by  the  consent  of  the  board  of  education. 


CHAPTER   61. 

Of  Teachers. 


SECTION 


1.  Certificate  of  qualification  required. 

2.  Certificate  valid  for  how  long. 

3.  Qualifications  of  teachers. 

4.  When  teachers  may  be  dismissed. 

5.  Teachers  to  keep  register  of  scholars 


SECTION 

and  certain  records,  and  make  re- 
port. 

6.  School  officers  ineligible  to  teach  in 

public  schools. 

7.  Moral  instruction. 


Certificate  of 


SECTION  1.     No  person  shall  be  employed  by  any  trustee 

J 

to  teach  as  principal  or  assistant  in  any  school  supported 
entirely  or  in  part  by  the  public  money,  unless  he  shall  have 
a  certificate  of  qualification  signed  either  by  the  school  com- 
mittee of  the  town,  or  by  some  person  appointed  by  said 
committee,  or  by  the  trustees  of  the  normal  school.  (See 
Chap.  ~>44,  Sec.  9,  Pub.  Laws.) 

SEC.  2.     Such  certificate,  unless  annulled,  if  signed  by  the   Hoyv  lonff 
school  committee,  shall  be  valid  within  the  town  for  one  year 
-or  for  such  portion  thereof  as  shall  be  specified  in  said  cer- 
tificate.    (See  Chap.  ~>44,  Sec.  9,  Pub.  Laws.) 

SEC.  3.     The  school  committee  shall  not  sign  any  certifi-  Qualification 

,  required  of 

cate  of  qualification  unless  the  person  named  in  the  same  teachers. 
shall  produce  evidence    of   good   moral    character   and   be 
found  on  examination  qualified  to  teach  the  various  branches 
required  to  be  taught  in  the  school.     (See  Chap.  544,  Sec.  9, 
Pub.  Laws.) 

SEC.  4.     The  school  committee  of  any  town  may,  on  reason- 
able   notice   and   a   hearing   of    such   teacher,  dismiss   any  when 
teacher  for  refusal  to   conform  to  the  regulations  by  them 


60 


LAWS   PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.  [Chap.  62, 


Teachers  to 
keep  a  register 
of  scholars, 
and  certain 
records,  and 
make  report. 


School  officers 
are  ineligible 
to  teach  in 
public  schools. 


Moral 
instruction. 


made,  or  for  other  just  cause  ;  and  in  such  case  shall  give 
immediate  notice  to  the  trustees  of  the  district. 

SEC.  5.  Every  teacher  in  any  public  school  shall  keep  a 
register  of  the  names  of  all  the  scholars  attending  said 
school,  their  sex,  age,  names  of  parents  or  guardians,  the 
time  when  each  scholar  enters  and  leaves  the  school,  the 
daily  attendance,  together  with  the  days  of  the  month  on 
which  the  school  is  visited  by  any  officer  connected  with 
public  schools,  and  shall  prepare  the  return  of  the  district  to- 
the  school  committee  of  the  town. 

SEC.  6.  No  superintendent  of  schools  or  member  of  the 
school  committee  of  any  town,  or  trustee  of  any  school  dis- 
trict, shall,  so  long  as  he  continues  in  said  office  of  superin- 
tendent, member  of  the  school  committee  or  trustee  of  schoo' 
district,  be  eligible  or  employed  to  teach  as  principal  01 
assistant  in  any  school  supported  entirely  or  in  part  by  the 
public  money,  within  the  town  where  said  superintendent 
member  of  the  school  committee  or  trustee  resides.  (See 
Chap.  620,  Pub.  Laws.) 

SEC.  7.  Every  teacher  shall  aim  to  implant  and  cultivate 
in  the  minds  of  all  children  committed  to  his  care  the  prin- 
ciples of  morality  and  virtue. 


CHAPTER  62. 

Of  Legal  Proceedings  Relating  to  Public  Schools. 


SECTION 


Appeals  from  decisions  relating  to 
public  schools,  to  whom  made ; 
duty  of  commissioner  to  hear  and 
decide. 

Statement  of  facts  may  be  presented 
to  justice  of  supreme  court. 

Appeals,  rules  of  to  be  prescribed 
by  commissioner. 

Matters  in  dispute  may  be  submit- 
ted to  commissioner  by  agree- 
ment. 

Votes  ordering  district  taxes,  final 
unless  appealed  from. 


SECTION 

6.  Costs,  in  what   cases   not   to   be 

taxed  against  school  officers. 

7.  Suit     against     district     may     be 

answered  by  inhabitant  or  tax 
payer. 

8,9.    Judgment  against  school  district 
how  satisfied. 

10.  Process     against    school    district 

how  to  be  served. 

11.  Record  of  clerk  of  district  is  prima 

facie  evidence, 

12.  Commissioner  may  remit    certain 

fines,  penalties  and  forfeitures. 


Chap.  62.]     LEGAL  PROCEEDINGS   RELATING   TO   SCHOOLS.  61 

SECTION  1.     Any  person    aggrieved    by    any    decision   or  Appeals  to 
doings  of  any  school  committee,  district  meeting,  trustees,  or   commissioner. 
in  any  other  matter  arising  under  this  title,  may  appeal  to 
the  commissioner  of  public  schools  who,  after  notice  to  the 
party  interested  of  the  time  and  place  of  hearing,  shall  ex- 
amine and  decide  the  same  without  cost  to  the  parties  :  Pro- 
vided, that  nothing   contained  in   this   section   shall   be  so 
construed  as  to  deprive  such  aggrieved  party  of  any  legal 
remedy. 

SEC.  2.  The  commissioner  of  public  schools  may,  and  if 
requested  on  hearing  such  appeal  by  either  party  shall,  lay 
a  statement  of  the  facts  of  the  case  before  one  of  the  justices 
of  the  supreme  court,  whose  decision  shall  be  final. 

SEC.  3.  The  commissioner  of  public  schools  may  from 
time  to  time  prescribe  rules  regulating  the  time  and  manner 
of  taking  such  appeals,  and  rules  to  prevent  appeals  for 
trifling  and  frivolous  causes. 

SEC.  4.     Parties  having  any  matter  of  dispute  between  submission  to 

commissioner 

them  arising  under  this  title,  may  agree  in  writing  to  submit  to  be  fi6na?entt 
the  same  to  the  adjudication  of  said  commissioner,  and  his 
decision  therein  shall  be  final. 

SEC.  5.  If  no  appeal  be  taken  from  a  vote  of  a  district 
relating  to  the  ordering  of  a  tax,  or  from  the  proceedings  of  f 
the  officers  of  the  district  in  assessing  the  same,  or  if,  on 
appeal,  such  proceedings  are  confirmed,  the  same  shall  not 
again  be  questioned  before  any  court  of  law  or  magistrate 
whatsoever :  Provided,  that  this  section  shall  not  be  so  con- 
strued as  to  dispense  with  legal  notice  of  the  meeting,  or  with 
the  approval  of  the  votes  or  proceedings  by  the  school  com- 
mittee or  commissioner  of  public  schools,  whenever  the  same 
is  required  by  law. 

SEC.  6.     In  any  civil   suit   before   any  court   against  any 


62 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.  [Chap.  62. 


ta°xednwhen  •  scno°l  officer  for  any  matter  which  might  by  this  chapter 
have  been  heard  and  decided  by  the  commissioner  of  public 
schools,  no  costs  shall  be  taxed  for  the  plaintiff  if  the  court 
are  of  opinion  that  such  officer  acted  in  good  faith. 


SEC.  7.     Any  inhabitant  of  a  district,  or  person  liable  to 


Suit  against 
district  may  be 

resident  or  tax-  pay  taxes  therein,  may  be  allowed  by  any  court  to  answer  a 

payer. 

suit  brought  therein  against  the  district,  on  giving  security 


for  costs,  in  such  manner  as  the  court  may  direct. 


Judgment 
against  a 
school  district, 
how  to  be 
satisfied. 


'  Whenever  judgment  shall  be  recovered  in  any 
court  of  record  against  any  school  district  the  court  render- 
ing judgment  shall  order  a  warrant  to  be  issued,  if  no  pro- 
ceedings operating  as  a  stay  be  taken,  to  the  assessors  of 
taxes  of  the  town  in  which  such  district  is  situated,  or,  in 
case  of  a  joint  district  composed  of  parts  of  towns,  then  to 
one  or  more  of  the  assessors  of  each  town,  with  or  without 
designating  them,  requiring  them  to  assess  upon  the  ratable 
property  in  said  district  a  tax  sufficient  to  pay  the  debts  or 
damages,  costs,  interest  and  a  sum  in  the  discretion  of  the 
court  sufficient  to  defray  the  expenses  of  assessment  and 
collection.  Said  assessors  shall,  without  a  new  engagement, 
proceed  to  assess  the  same,  giving  notice  as  in  case  of  other 
district  taxes. 


same  subject.  gEC  9  gajd  warrant  shall  also  contain  a  direction  to  the 
collector  of  the  town,  or,  in  case  of  a  joint  district,  then  to  the 
collector  of  either  town,  as  the  court  may  direct,  requiring 
him  to  collect  said  tax  ;  and  said  warrant,  with  the  assessment 
annexed  thereto,  shall  be  a  sufficient  authority  for  the  col- 
lector, without  a  special  engagement,  to  proceed  and  collect 
the  same  with  the  same  power  as  in  the  case  of  a  town  tax  ; 
and  when  collected,  he  shall  pay  over  the  same  to  the  parties 
to  whom  it  may  belong,  and  the  surplus,  if  any,  to  the  district. 
And  the  court  may  require  a  bond  of  the  collector. 


SEC.  10.     Whenever  any  writ,  summons  or  other  process 


Chap.  63.       NORMAL   SCHOOL,   INSTITUTES   AND  LECTURES.    "  63 


shall  issue  against  any  school  district  in  any  civil  suit,  the   Process  against 

district,  how 

same  may  be  served  on  the  treasurer  or  clerk  ;  and  if  there  served- 
are  no  such  officers  to  be  found,  the  officer  charged  with  the 
same  may  post  up  a  certified  copy  thereof  on  the  door  of  the 
schoolhouse,  and,  if  there  be  no  schoolhouse,  then  in  some 
public  place  in  the  district,  and  the  same,  when  proved  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  court,  shall  constitute  a  sufficient  service 
thereof. 

SEC.  11.     The  record  of  the  district  clerk  that  a  meeting*  Record  of 

clerk,  prima 

has  been  duly  or  legally  notified  shall  be  prima  facie  evidence  facie  evidence. 
that  it  has  been  notified  as  the  law  requires.     The  clerk  shall 
obtain  at  the  expense  of  the  district  a  suitably  bound  book 
for  keeping  the  record  therein. 

SEC.  12.     The  commissioner  of  public  schools  may,  by  and  school  Com- 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  board  of  education,  remit  when.fines' 
all  fines,  penalties  and  forfeitures  incurred  by  any  town,  dis- 
trict or  person,  under  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  title,  ex- 
cept the  forfeiture  incurred  by  any  town  for  not  raising  its 
proportion  of  money. 


CHAPTER  63. 

Of  the  Normal  School,  Teachers'  Institutes  and  Lectures. 

SECTION  '    SECTION 

1.    Normal  school,  management  of.  6.    Teachers'    institutes,    and    educa- 

8.    Qualification     of     applicants     for  tional  publications,  etc.,  appro- 


tuition. 

3.  Diploma,  who  to  receive. 

4.  Trustees  to  examine  applicants  to 

teach. 

5.  When  may  pay  travelling  expenses 

of  pupils. 


priation  for. 

Commissioner  of  public  schools  to 
account  to  state  auditor  for  ex- 
penditures. 


SECTION  1.     The  normal  school  shall  be  under  the  manage-  Normal  school, 

.  .    how  to  be 

ment  of  the  board  of  education   and   the  commissioner  of  managed, 
public  schools  as  a  board  of  trustees. 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.  [Chap.  63. 


Qualification 
for  free  tuition. 


Diplomas  to 
whom. 


Examination, 
and 

certificate  of 
qualification  to 
teach. 


Travelling 
expenses  of 
pupils  to  be 
paid  in  what 
cases. 


Appropriation 
for  institutes 
and  lectures. 


SEC.  2.  All  applicants  from  the  several  towns  in  the  state 
shall  be  admitted  to  free  tuition  in  said  school,  after  having 
passed  such  an  examination  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the 
board  of  trustees,  and  after  having  given  to  such  board  satis- 
factory evidence  of  their  intention  to  teach  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  state  for  at  least  one  year  after  leaving  the 
said  school. 

SEC.  3.  Persons  who  shall  have  passed  the  regular  course 
of  studies  at  the  normal  school  shall,  on  the  written  recom- 
mendation of  the  principal,  receive  a  diploma  signed  by  the 
trustees  of  the  school. 

SEC.  4.  The  said  trustees  may,  by  themselves  or  by  a  com- 
mittee of  their  board,  examine  all  applicants  to  teach  in  the 
public  schools,  and  shall  give  certificates  to  such  as  are  found 
qualified  to  teach  school.  (See  Chap,  -544,  Sec.  9-12,  Pub. 
Laws.) 

SEC.  5.  The  trustees  of  the  normal  school  may  pay  to 
each  pupil  who  shall  reside  within  the  state  and  not  within 
five  miles  of  said  school,  who  shall  have  been  duly  admitted 
thereto,  and  who  shall  have  attended  the  regular  sessions  of 
said  school  and  complied  with  the  regulations  thereof  during 
the  term  next  preceding  such  payments,  not  exceeding  ten 
dollars  for  each  quarter  year  for  travelling  expenses ;  but 
such  payments  in  the  aggregate  for  such  travelling  expenses 
shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars  in  any 
one  year,  and  shall  be  made  to  the  respective  pupils  entitled 
to  the  same  in  proportion  to  the  distance  they  may  reside 
from  said  school.  (See  Chap.  419,  Pub.  Laws  ) 

SEC.  6.  A  sum  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars  shall  be 
annually  paid  for  defraying  the  necessary  expenses  and 
charges  for  teachers  and  lecturers  for  teachers'  institutes,  to 
be  holden  under  the  direction  of 'the  commissioner  of  public 
schools ;  and  a  sum  not  exceeding  three  hundred  dollars 
shall  be  annually  paid  under  the  direction  of  the  board  of 


€hap.  64.]    ATTENDANCE  OF  CHILDREN  IN  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

education  for  publishing  and  distributing  among  the  several 
towns  educational  publications,  providing  lectures  on  educa- 
tional topics  and  otherwise  promoting  the  interests  of  educa- 
tion in  the  state. 


65 


SEC.  7.     The  commissioner  of  public  schools  shall  render  Annual  ac- 
count of  com- 

an  annual  account  to  the  state  auditor  of  his  expenditures 
under  the  provisions  of  this  chapter  with  his  vouchers  there- 
for. 


CHAPTER  64. 

Of  Truant  Children,  and  of  the  Attendance  of  Children  in 
the  Public  Schools. 


SECTION 

1.  Attendance  at  day  schools  required. 

2.  Private  school  may  be  approved. 

3.  Truant  officers,  and  their  appoint- 

ment, duties  and  fees. 

4.  Inquiry  to  be  made  into  causes  of 

neglect  to  attend  school. 
5-7.    Employment  of  children  between 

twelve  and  fifteen  years  of  age 

forbidden,     when,     unless,     etc. 

Penalty. 
8,  9.    Duties  of  truant  officers,  as   to 

children  employed. 


SECTION 

1 0.  Penalty  for  employment  of  children 

unable  to  read  or  write,  when. 

11.  Ordinances  to  be  made  concerning 

truancy  and  idle  children. 

12.  13.    Commitment  and  discharge  of 

minors     convicted     under     such 
ordinances. 

14.  School    committee   to    report    of 

action  of  town  under  this  chapter. 

15.  Fines,  how  to  inure. 

16.  Jurisdiction  of  district  court. 

17.  Officers  need  not  give  surety  for 

costs. 


SECTION  1.     Every  person  having  under  his  control  a  child 


at~ 


between  the  ages  of  seven  and  fifteen  years  shall  annually  tfme°infeacnhat 

cause  such  child  to  regularly  attend  for  at  least  eighty  full  y 

school  days  some  public  day  school  in  the  town  or  city  in 

which  such  child  resides  ;  and  while  such  child  is  not  law- 

fully employed  to  labor  at  home  or  elsewhere  said  person 

shall  cause  such  child  to  attend  a  public  day  school  regularly 

during  the  days  and   hours  that  the  public  schools  are  in 

session  in  the  city,  town,  or  district  where  such  child  resides  ; 

and  for  every  neglect  of  such  duty  the  person  so  offending  penalty,  ex- 

shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  twenty  dollars  :  Provided,  that  causes. 


66  LAWS  PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  64. 

if  the  person  so  charged  shall  prove,  or  shall  present  a  cer- 
tificate, made  by  or  under  the  direction  of  the  school  com- 
mittee of  the  city  or  town  wherein  he  resides,  setting-  forth 
that  the  child  has  attended  for  the  required  period  of  time  a 
private  day  school  approved  by  the  school  committee  of  the 
city  or  town  where  said  school  is  located,  or  that  the  child 
has  been  otherwise  furnished  for  a  like  period  of  time  with 
the  means  of  education,  or  has  already  acquired  the  elemen- 
tary branches  of  learning-  taught  in  the  public  schools,  or 
that  his  physical  or  mental  condition  was  such  as  to  render 
his  attendance  inexpedient  or  impracticable,  or  that  the  child 
was  destitute  of  clothing  suitable  for  attending  school  and 
that  the  person  in  charge  of  said  child  was  unable  to  provide 
such  clothing,  or  that  the  child  has  been  excused  from  at- 
tending school  by  the  school  committee  of  the  city  or  town 
where  he  resides,  then  such  penalty  shall  not  be  incurred, 
(See  Chap.  587,  Pub.  Laws.) 

what  private         SEC.  2.    For  the  purposes  of  this  chapter  the  school  coin- 
schools  may  be 
approved.         mittees  of  the  several  towns  and  cities  shall  approve  a  private 

school  only  when  the  teaching  therein  is  in  the  English  lan- 
guage and  wrhen  they  are  satisfied  that  such  teaching  is  thor- 
ough and  efficient,  and  when  the  persons  in  charge  of  said 
school  shall  keep  the  record  of  the  attendance  of  the  pupils 
thereof  upon  the  blanks  provided  by  the  state  for  such  pur- 
pose and  shall  render  to  the  school  committee  of  the  town  or 
city  where  said  school  is  located  a  detailed  report  of  the  at- 
tendance of  any  pupil  for  any  specified  time  :  Provided^  that 
the  request  for  such  report  is  made  in  writing  and  sets  forth 
that  such  pupil  is  suspected  of  irregular  attendance  or  tru- 
ancy. 
Truant  SEC.  3.  The  town  council  of  each  town,  and  the  board  of 

officers ;  how 

thPSridmiesand  aldermen  of  each  city,  shall  annually  appoint  one  or  more 
special  constables,  and  fix  their  compensation,  who  shall  be 
truant  officers  and  who  shall,  under  the  direction  of  the  school 
committee,  inquire  into  all  cases  arising  under  the  provisions 


Chap.  64.]    ATTENDANCE  OF  CHILDREN  IN  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS.  67 

of  this  chapter,  or  under  any  ordinances  made  in  pursuance 
thereof  by  the  town  or  city  by  which  such  officers  were  ap- 
pointed, and  shall  alone  be  authorized,  in  case  of  violation 
of  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  chapter,  or  of  any  such  ordi- 
nances, to  make  complaint  therefor  ;  they  shall  also  serve  all 
legal  processes  issued  in  pursuance  of  this  chapter  or  of  any 
such  ordinances,  but  shall  not  be  entitled  to  receive  any  fees 
for  such  service  :  Provided,  however,  that  in  case  of  the  com-  in  what  cases 

fees  to  be 

mitment  of  any  person  under  the  provisions  of  any  section  allowed. 
of  this  chapter,  or  of  any  ordinance  made  in  pursuance  there- 
of, or  for  default  of  payment  of  any  fine  and  costs  imposed 
thereunder,  such  officer  shall  be  entitled  to  the  regular  fees 
allowed  by  law  for  similar  service. 

SEC.  4.     The  truant  officers  and  the  school  committees  of  inquiry  to  be 

made  into 

the  several  towns  and  cities  shall  inquire  into  all  cases  of  SSSuort- 
neglect  of  the  duty  prescribed  in  section  one  of  this  chapter 
within  their  respective  towns  and  cities,  and  ascertain  the 
reasons,  if  any,  therefor  ;  and  such  truant  officers,  or  any  of 
them,  shall,  when  so  directed  by  the  school  committee,  pros- 
ecute any  person  liable  to  the  penalty  provided  for  in  said 
section  one. 

SEC.  5.     No  child  between  the  ages  of  twelve  and  fifteen  Employment 

of  any  child 

years  shall  be  employed  in  any  manufacturing,  mechanical 


or  mercantile  establishment,  or  by  any  telegraph  or  telephone  a?ee?snfo?bid°f 

•company  in  this  state,  except   during  the  vacations  of  the  unless,  etc'. 

public  schools  of  the  city,  town  or  district  in  which  such  child  section  ?.  er 

resides,  unless,  during  the  twelve  months  next  preceding  such 

employment,  he  shall  have  attended  school  as  provided  for 

in  section  one  of  this  chapter,  or  shall  have  already  acquired 

the  elementary  branches  of  learning  taught   in  the  public 

schools,  or  shall  have  been  excused  by  the  school  committee 

of  the  town  or  city  in  which  such  child  resides;  nor  shall 

such   employment  continue  unless  such   child   shall  attend 

school  as  above  provided  each  year,  or  until  he  shall  have 


68 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.  [Chap.  64, 


Employer  to 
keep  on  file 
what 

certificate  of 
children. 


Penalty  on 
employer, 
parent  or 
guardian. 


Truant  officers 
to  visit  places 
of  employ- 
ment, and 
report. 


To  demand 
names  of 
children  em- 
ployed and 
require 
certificates. 


acquired  the  elementary  branches  of  learning  taught  in  the 
public  schools. 

SEC.  6.  No  child  between  the  ages  of  twelve  and  fifteen 
years  shall  be  so  employed  who  does  not  present  a  certificate 
made  by  or  under  the  direction  of  ^the  school  committee  of 
the  city  or  town  in  which  such  child  resides,  of  his  compli- 
ance with  the  requirements  of  section  five  of  this  chapter ; 
and  said  certificate  shall  also  give  the  place  and  date  of  birth 
of  such  child  as  nearly  accurate  as  may  be  ;  and  every  owner, 
superintendent  or  overseer,  of  any  establishment  or  company 
employing  any  such  child  shall  keep  such  certificate  on  file 
so  long  as  such  child  is  employed  therein.  The  form  of  said 
certificate  shall  be  furnished  by  the  secretary  of  the  state 
board  of  education. 

SEC.  7.  Every  owner,  superintendent  or  overseer  of  any 
such  establishment  or  company  who  employs  or  permits  to 
be  employed  any  child  in  violation  of  either  of  the  two  next 
preceding  sections,  and  every  parent  or  guardian  who  per- 
mits such  employment,  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  twenty 
dollars. 

SEC.  8.  The  truant  officers  shall,  at  least  once  in  every 
school  term,  and  as  often  as  the  school  committee  require, 
visit  the  establishments  or  companies  employing  such  chil- 
dren in  their  respective  towns  and  cities,  and  ascertain  whether 
the  provisions  of  the  three  next  preceding  sections  hereof 
are  duly  observed,  and  report  all  violations  thereof  to  the 
school  committee. 

SEC.  9.  The  truant  officers  shall  demand  the  names  of  the 
children  under  fifteen  years  of  age  employed  in  such  estab- 
lishments or  companies  in  their  respective  towns  and  cities^ 
and  shall  require  the  certificates  of  age  and  school  attendance, 
prescribed  in  section  six  of  this  chapter,  to  be  produced  for 


Chap.  64.]    ATTENDANCE  OF  CHILDREN  IN  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS.  69 

their  inspection;  and  a  refusal  to  produce  such  certificates  Penalty, 
shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  not  exceeding*  ten  dollars. 

SEC.  10.     Every  owner,  superintendent  or  overseer  of  any  Penalty  for 

employing 

such  establishment  or  company  who  employs  or  permits  to 
be  employed  therein  a  child  under  fifteen  years  of  age  who 
cannot  write  his  name,  age  and  place  of  residence  legibly,  session! ar 
while  the  public  schools  in  the  town  or  city  where  such  child 
lives  are  in  session,  shall  for  every  such  offence  be  fined  not 
exceeding  twenty  dollars. 

SEC.  11.     The  town  council  of  each  town,  and  the  city  coun-  ^^"mScon6 
cil  of  each  city,  shall  make  all  needful  provisions  and  arrange-   andnidfetruants 
ments  concerning   habitual   truants  and  children  who  may 
be  found   wandering  about  in  the  streets  or  public  places 
therein,  having  no  lawful  occupation  or  business,  not  attend- 
ing school  and  growing  up  in  ignorance,  and  shall  make  such 
ordinances  as  will  be  most  conducive  to  the  welfare  of  such 
children  and  to  the  good  order  of  such  town  or  city;  and 
shall  designate  or  provide  suitable  places  for   the  confine- 
ment, discipline  and  instruction  of  such  children. 

SEC.  12.     Every  minor  convicted,  under  an  ordinance  made   Penalty  for 

truancy  and  for 

under   the   provisions  of   section  eleven  of  this  chapter,  of  idleness  under 
being  an  habitual  truant,  or  of  wandering  about  in  the  streets   c 
and  public  places  of  a  town  or  city,  or  of  having  no  lawful 
employment  or  business,  or  of  not  attending  school  and  of 
growing  up  in  ignorance,  shall  be  committed  to  any  institu- 
tion of  instruction  or  suitable  place  designated  or  provided 
for  the  purpose  under  the  authority  of  said  section  eleven, 
for  a  period  not  exceeding  two  years. 

SEC.  13.     Children  so  committed  may,  on  satisfactory  proof  ^Jfjf®  £f 
of  amendment  or  for  other   sufficient   cause,  be  discharged  idle  children- 
from  such  institution  or  place  by  the  court  which  committed 
them. 


70 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.  [Oliap.  64. 


fine  Sschooi 
withheld/0  be 


SEC-  14-  The  school  committees  of  the  several  towns  and 
£haptenrder  s  cities  shall  annually  report  to  the  state  board  of  education 
whether  their  towns  or  cities  have  made  the  provisions  re- 
(lu^re(^ ^y  this  chapter;  and  in  case  the  town  council  of 
any  town,  or  the  board  of  aldermen  and  city  council  of  any 
city,  shall  in  any  year  refuse  or  neglect  to  comply  with  the 
provisions  of  section  three  and  section  eleven  of  this  chapter, 
or  of  either  of  them,  after  having*  been  duly  notified  by  the 
commissioner  of  public  schools,  fifty  per  centum  of  the  money 
apportioned  to  such  city  or  town  from  the  state  for  school 
purposes  shall  be  withheld  until  the  provisions  of  said  sec- 
tion three  and  section  eleven  of  this  chapter  have  been  com- 
plied with. 


SS?llhowt° 


5>  All  fines  under  the  provisions  of  this  chapter 
shall  inure  and  be  applied  to  the  support  of  the  public  schools 
in  the  town  or  city  where  the  offence  was  committed. 


^EC'  16>  The  district  courts  of  the  state  shall  have  juris- 
diction in  their  respective  districts  of  all  cases  arising  under 
this  chapter  and  all  ordinances  passed  in  conformity  with 
this  chapter. 

officers  com-         SEC.  17.     No  officer  complaining  under  any  of  the  provis- 

plammg  not 

give  Surety  for  i°ns  °^  this  chapter,  or  under  the  provisions  of  any  ordinance 
that  may  be  passed  in  pursuance  hereof,  shall  be  required  to 
give  surety  for  costs  ;  and  such  officer  shall  not  in  anywise 
become  liable  for  any  costs  that  may  accrue  on  such  com- 
plaint. 


Chap.  65.]    GENERAL  PROVISIONS  RELATING  TO  SCHOOLS. 


71 


CHAPTER   65. 


General  Provisions  Relating  to  Public  Schools. 


SECTION 

1.  Exclusion    from    school   to  be   by 

general  rule. 

2,  3.    District  officers  to  be  engaged  in 

office ;  record  of  district  clerk  is 
prima  facie  evidence. 

4.  Tenure  of  office  of  such  officers. 

5.  Penalty  for  neglect  of  duties. 

6.  School  committee,  board  of  educa- 

tion and  commissioner  may  visit 
schools  aided  by  the  state. 

7.  Penalty  for  refusing  to  permit  such 

visitation. 

8.  Nuisances    near    schoolhouse,  pro- 

hibited. 

9.  Construction  of  the  word  "town," 

as  to  the  city  of  Providence. 


SECTION 

10.  Public   schools  in   city  of   Provi- 

dence, how  governed. 

11.  Taking  of  fees,  etc.,  for  promoting 

sale  or  exchange  of  school  books, 
etc.,  prohibited. 

12.  Offering   of  fees,   etc.,    to   public 

school  officers  for  such  purpose, 
prohibited. 

13.  Children  of  deceased  soldiers  and 

sailors,   when   admitted   free   to 
public  schools. 

14.  Pupils  not  allowed  to  attend  public 

schools    without     certificate     of 
vaccination. 

15.  Penalty  for  violation  of  provisions 

of  this  chapter. 

16.  Special  statutes  prevail. 


SECTION  1.     No  person  shall  be  excluded  from  any  public  Exclusion  to  be 

by  general 

school  in  the  district  to  which  such  person  belongs,  if  the  rule- 
town  is  divided  into  districts,  or,  if  not  so  divided,  from  the 
nearest  public  school,  on  account  of  race  or  color,  or  for 
being  over  fifteen  years  of  age,  nor  except  by  force  of  some 
general  regulation  applicable  to  all  persons  under  the  same 
circumstances. 


SEC.  2.  Every  school  district  officer  elected  or  appointed 
under  the  provisions  of  this  title,  except  the  moderator  of  a 
district  meeting,  shall  take  an  engagement,  before  some  per- 
son authorized  to  administer  oaths,  to  support  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States,  the  constitution  and  laws  of  this 
state,  and  faithfully  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  office  so 
long  as  he  shall  continue  therein. 


SEC.  3.     The  record  of  the  district  clerk  that  any  school 
district  officer  has  been  duly  engaged  shall  be  prima  facie  r 
evidence  thereof;  and  no  school  district  officer  shall  enter 
upon  the  duties  of  his  office  without  taking  an  engagement. 


72 


LAWS   PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  65. 


Penalty  for 
neglect  of 
duties. 


offi"erof°sfuch  SEC.  4.  Every  school  district  officer  elected  or  appointed 
under  the  provisions  of  this  title  shall,  without  a  new  engage- 
ment, hold  his  office  until  the  time  of  the  next  annual  election 
or  appointment  for  such  office  and  until  his  successor  is 
elected  or  appointed  and  qualified. 

SEC.  5.  Every  officer  who  shall  make  any  false  certificate, 
or  appropriate  any  public  school  money  to  any  purpose  not 
authorized  by  law,  or  who  shall  refuse  for  a  reasonable  charge 
to  give  certified  copies  of  any  official  paper,  or  to  account 
for  or  deliver  to  his  successor  any  accounts,  papers  or  money 
in  his  hands,  or  shall  wilfully  or  knowingly  refuse  to  perform 
any  duty  of  his  office,  or  violate  any  provisions  of  any  law 
regulating  public  schools,  except  where  a  particular  penalty 
may  be  prescribed,  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  five  hundred 
dollars  or  be  imprisoned  not  exceeding  six  months,  and  shall 
be  liable  to  an  action  of  the  case  for  damages  to  be  brought 
by  any  person  injured  thereby. 

SEC.  6.  Any  school  receiving  aid  from  the  state,  either  by 
direct  grant  or  by  exemption  from  taxation,  may  be  visited 
and  examined  by  the  school  committee  of  the  town  in  which 
such  school  is  situated,  and  by  the  members  of  the  board  of 
education  and  the  commissioner  of  public  schools,  whenever 
they  shall  deem  it  advisable. 

SEC.  7.  Whenever  such  school  shall  refuse  to  permit  such 
visitation,  when  requested,  its  exemption  from  taxation  shall 
thereafter  cease  and  be  determined. 

Nuisances  pro-       SEC.  8.     No  person  shall  keep   any  swine  in  any  pen  or 

hibited  near 

schooihouses.  other  enclosure,  or  shall  keep  or  suner  to  be  kept  any  other 
nuisance,  within  one  hundred  feet  of  any  schoolhouse  or 
within  one  hundred  feet  of  any  fence  enclosing  the  yard  of 
any  such  schoolhouse. 


Schools  aided 

by  state 

to  be  visited. 


Penalty  for 
refusal. 


SEC.  9.     In  the  construction  of  this  title,  except  in  the 


Chap.  65.]    GENERAL  PROVISIONS  RELATING  TO  SCHOOLS.  73 

construction  of  chapter  sixty-four,  and  sections  six  and  seven   construction 
of  this  chapter,  and  section  twenty-three  of   chapter  sixtv    "town  "as  to 

J  '     city  of 

the  word  "  town  "  shall  include  the  city  of  Providence  only   Providence- 
so  far  as  to  entitle  said  city  to  a  distributive  share  in  the 
public  money,  upon  making  a  report  to  the  commissioner  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  school  committees  of  other  towns 
are  required  to  do.     (See  Chap.  4®0,  Pub.  Laws.} 

SEC.  10.     The  public  schools  in  said  city  shall  continue,  as   schools  in 

Providence. 

heretofore,  to  be  governed  according  to  such  ordinances  and 
regulations  as  the  proper  city  authorities  may  from  time  to 
time  adopt.  (See  Chap.  4%0,  Pub.  Laws. 

SEC.  11.     No  superintendent  or  school  committee  of  any  Fees,  or 

/v    •  T  pecuniary  in- 

town,  or  any  person  officially  connected  with  the  government 


or  direction  of  the  public  schools,  shall  receive  any  private   schoofofficers. 

fee,  gratuity,  donation  or  compensation  in  any  manner  what- 

soever for  promoting  the  sale  or  the  exchange  of  any  school- 

book,  map  or  chart  in  any  public  school,  or  be  an  agent  for 

the  sale  or  the  publisher  of  any  school  text-book,  or  be  di- 

rectly or  indirectly  pecuniarily  interested  in  the  introduction 

of  any  school  text-book  ;  and  any  such  agency  or  interest 

shall  disqualify  any  person  so  acting  or  interested  from  hold- 

ing any  school  office  whatsoever. 

SEC.  12.     No  person  shall  offer  to  any  public  school  officer   offering  of 

fees,  etc., 

any  fee,  commission  or  compensation  whatsoever,  as  an  in-  prohibited. 
ducement  to  effect  through  such  officer  any  sale  or  promo- 
tion of  sale,  or  exchange,  of  any  schoolbook,  map,  chart  or 
school  apparatus. 

SEC.  13.    All  the  public  schools  in  the  state,  including  the  ^ceSd^ 
State  Normal  School,  shall  be  open  to  the  children  of  officers  ialuJrs  ad"d 
and  soldiers  belonging  to  the  state,  mustered  into  the  service  when.   ree' 
of  the  United  States,  and  of  those  persons  belonging  to  the 
state,  and  serving  in  the  navy  of   the  United   States,  who 
died  in  said  service  during  the  late  rebellion  against  the 
.   10 


74 


LAWS   PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  66. 


authority  of  the  United  States,  or  who  were  discharged  from 
said  service  in  consequence  of  wounds  or  disease  contracted 
in  said  service,  or  who  were  killed  in  battle,  without  any  cost 
or  expense  for  taxes  or  other  charges  imposed  for  purposes 
of  public  education. 


No  pupil 
allowed  to 


SEC.  14.    No   person   shall    be   permitted   to    attend  any 
school  wPthout  public  school  in  this  state  as  a  pupil,  unless  such  person  shall 
vaccination.       furnish  to  the  teacher  of  such  school  a  certificate  of  some 
practicing  physician   that   such   person   has  been  properly 
vaccinated  as  a  protection  from  smallpox ;  and  every  teacher 
in  the  public  schools  shall  keep  a  record  of  the  names  of 
such  pupils  in  their  respective  schools  as  have  presented  such 
certificate. 


Penalty  for  SEC.  15.     Every   person   violating   any   provision   of   this 

chapter.  chapter  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  fifty  dollars  or  be  im- 

prisoned not  exceeding  thirty  days,  unless  herein  otherwise 
provided. 


Special 
statutes  to 
prevail. 


SEC.  16.  The  foregoing  provisions  of  this  title  are  subject 
to  the  provisions  of  any  special  statutes  respecting  schools, 
or  the  management  of  schools,  in  any  particular  town  or 
city,  none  of  which  are  repealed  hereby. 


CHAPTER  66. 

Of  the  Rhode  Island  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic 

Arts. 


SECTION 

1.  Continued   a    body   corporate    for 

what  purposes. 

2.  Location.    To  have  moneys  received 

from  the  United  States. 


SECTION 

3.  Board  of  managers ;  term  of  office, 

vacancies,  and  residence. 

4.  Officers  of  the  board. 

5.  Duties  of  officers  and  teachers. 


SECTION  1.     The  present  board  of  managers  of  the  Rhode 
Island  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts,  and  their 


Chap.  66.]  COLLEGE  OF  AGRICULTURE  AND  MECHANIC  ARTS.  75 

successors,  for  the  terms  for  which   they  have  been  or  for  R.I. college 

,.,.,.  of  Agriculture 

which  they  hereafter  may  be  appointed  or  elected  as  such   and  Mechanic 

Arts,  is  to 

managers,  shall  continue  to  be  a  body  politic  and  corporate  bodyinuea 
for  the  purpose  of  continuing  and  maintaining  said  college  corporate- 
corporation  as  a  college  where  the  leading  object  shall  be,  Leadingobject. 
without  excluding  other  scientific  and  classical  studies,  and 
including  military  tactics,  to  teach  such  branches  of  learning 
as  are  related  to  agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts,  in  order 
to  promote  the  liberal  and  practical  education  of  the  indus- 
trial classes  in  the  several  pursuits  and  professions  of  life,  as 
provided  in  the  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  ap- 
proved July  2,  1862,  entitled  "An  act  donating  public  lands 
to  the  several  states  and  territories  which  may  provide  col- 
leges for  the  benefit  of  agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts," 
and  for  the  purpose  of  continuing  and  maintaining  an  agri- 
cultural experiment  station  as  a  department  of  said  college 
under  and  in  accordance  with,  and  to  carry  out  the  purposes 
of,  the  act  of  Congress  approved  March  2,  1887,  entitled  "An 
act  to  establish  agricultural  experiment  stations  in  connec-  Experiment 

station. 

tion  with  the  colleges  established  in  the  several  states  under 
the  provisions  of  an  act  approved  July  2,  1862,  and  of  the  acts 
supplementary  thereto,"  by  the  said  name  of  "  Rhode  Island 
College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts,"  with  all  the 
powers  and  privileges,  and  subject  to  all  the  duties  and  lia- 
bilities set  forth  in  chapter  one  hundred  seventy-seven. 

SEC.  2.     Said  college  and  experiment  station  shall  until  Location. 
otherwise  ordered  continue  to  be  located  in  the  town  of  South 
Kingstown  upon  the  estate  now  occupied  by  them,  and  all 
moneys  hereafter  received  under  said  act  of  Congress  ap- 
proved March  2,1887,  and  under   the  act   of   Congress  ap-  To  have  the 
proved  August  30,  1890,  entitled,  "An  act  to  apply  a  portion  SirSPfrom 
of  the  proceeds  of  the  public  lands  to  the  more  complete  en- 
dowment and  support  of  the  colleges  for  the  benefit  of  agri- 
culture and  mechanic  arts,  established  under  the  provisions 


76 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.  [Chap.  66. 


Duty  of 
managers  and 
officers. 


Term  of  office 
and  future 
appointment 
of  managers. 


Vacancies. 


Future 
members. 


of  an  act  of  Congress  approved  July  2,  1862,"  and  all  other 
moneys  which  shall  be  received  by  the  state  for  the  promo- 
tion of  agriculture  or  the  mechanic  arts  under  or  by  virtue  of 
any  act  of  Congress,  shall,  as  and  when  received,  be  paid  over 
to  the  treasurer  for  the  time  being  of  said  college  corporation, 
to  be  used  and  applied  and  accounted  for  by  the  managers  and 
officers  of  said  corporation  for  the  time  being,  as  required  by 
the  respective  acts  of  Congress  under  which  the  same  are  re- 
ceived. And  the  managers  and  officers  of  said  corporation 
shall  perform  all  the  duties,  and  make  and  publish,  distribute 
and  render  all  bulletins  and  reports  required  by  said  acts  of 
Congress,  or  by  any  acts  in  amendment  thereof  or  supple- 
mentary thereto  ;  and  shall  also  report  to  the  general  assem- 
bly annually  at  its  January  session. 

SEC.  3.  The  several  members  of  said  present  board  of 
managers  of  said  college  corporation  shall  continue  to  hold 
their  respective  offices  during  the  terms  for  which  they  were 
last  appointed  and  until  their  respective  successors  are  qual- 
ified to  act ;  and  upon  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  office  of 
that  member  of  said  board  whose  term  shall  expire  next  after 
the  General  Laws  shall  go  into  operation,  and  in  every  year 
thereafter,  there  shall  be  one  member  of  said  board  appointed 
by  the  governor,  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  senate, 
for  the  term  of  five  years  and  until  his  successor  shall  be 
qualified  to  act.  In  case  of  a  vacancy  in  said  board  such  va- 
cancy shall  be  filled,  if  the  general  assembly  be  in  session, 
by  the  governor  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  senate, 
if  not  in  session  by  the  governor  until  the  next  session  of  the 
general  assembly,  when,  as  soon  as  may  be,  an  appointment 
shall  be  made  by  the  governor  with  the  advice  and  consent 
of  the  senate,  to  fill  such  vacancy,  and  the  person  so  ap- 
pointed shall  hold  his  office  for  the  remainder  of  the  unex- 
pired  term.  And  every  future  member  of  said  board  shall 
be  a  domiciled  inhabitant  of  the  same  county  as  was  the  re- 


Chap.  66.]  COLLEGE  OF  AGRICULTURE  AND  MECHANIC  ARTS.  77 

tiring  member  of  the  board  whose  place  he  is  appointed  to 
fill. 

SEC.  4.     Said  board  of  managers  shall  annually  elect  one  Board  of 
of  their  own  number  to  be  president  of  the  board,  who  shall  officers  of. 
also  be  the  president  of  the  corporation  and  shall  continue 
in  office  until  his  successor  is  elected.     They  shall  also  from 
time  to  time  appoint  a  treasurer  and  a  clerk,  who  shall  also 
be  officers  of  the  corporation,  and  who  may  be,  but  need  not 
necessarily  be,  the  same  person  or  members  of  the  board, 
and  who  shall  hold  their  respective  offices  at  the  pleasure  of 
the  board.     The  treasurer  before  entering  upon  his  office  Treasurer  to 

give  bond. 

shall  give  bond  to  the  state  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his 
duties,  in  form  to  be  approved  by  the  attorney  -general,  in  a 
penal  sum  to  be  fixed  by  the  said  board  of  managers  and 
with  surety  or  sureties  to  be  approved  by  the  governor  ;  such 
bond  to  be  filed  and  to  be  kept  on  file  in  the  office  of  the 
secretary  of  state,  and  which  bond  shall  be  renewed  when- 
ever required  by  the  board  of  managers  or  by  the  governor. 
And  the  treasurer  shall  make  a  full  detailed  report  annually  Treasurer  to 

make  an 

to  the  general  assembly,  at  its  January  session,  of  all  his  re-   annual  report. 
ceipts  and  expenditures,  properly  audited  by  the  board  of 
managers  or  a  committee  thereof. 


SEC.  5.     Said  board  of  managers  shall  have  the  general 
care  and  management  of  said  estate  in  South  Kingstown  and  ru!es,ran™ap- 

.  .  ,  ,          point  a  faculty. 

of  said  college  and  experiment  station,  and  may  employ 
professors,  teachers  and  other  persons  in  and  about  the  same 
and  prescribe  their  duties  and  fix  their  compensation,  and 
from  time  to  time  make  rules  and  regulations  for  their  gov- 
ernment ;  and  may  also  make  by-laws,  rules,  and  regulations 
to  govern  their  own  meetings  and  proceedings.  Said  board 
of  managers  shall  from  time  to  time  appoint  the  faculty  of 

diplomas. 

said  college  ;  and  such  faculty  shall  from  time  to  time  arrange 
the  courses  of  study,  conforming  to  said  acts  of  congress  in 
this  behalf,  and  prescribe  such  qualifications  for  admission 


78 


LAWS  PEKTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.  [Chap.  67. 


of  students,  and  such  rules  of  study,  exercise,  discipline,  and 
government,  as  they  shall  deem  proper ;  they  may  also  grant 
academical  degrees  and  diplomas  appropriate  to  the  courses 
of  study  to  those  students  of  good  moral  character  who  shall 
have  pursued  the  prescribed  courses  and  passed  satisfactory 
examinations. 


CHAPTER   67. 


Of  State  Beneficiaries  at  the  Rhode  Island  School  of  Design. 


SECTION 

1.  Appropriation  for. 

2.  Annual  report. 

3.  Ex-officio  directors. 


SECTION 

4.  5.    State  beneficiaries,  and  how  ap- 
pointed. 
6.    Tuition  fees,  how  paid. 


Appropriation 
for  the  R.  I. 
School  of 
Design,  how 
paid ;  powers 
of  board  of 
education. 


SECTION  1.  Such  sums  as  shall  be  from  time  to  time  ap- 
propriated by  the  general  assembly  to  the  Rhode  Island 
School  of  Design,  shall  be  paid  by  the  general  treasurer 
upon  the  orders  of  the  state  board  of  education,  who  are 
hereby  empowered  and  authorized  to  visit  and  examine  said 
school  at  their  pleasure. 

Annual  report.  SEC.  2.  The  directors  of  the  above-named  school  of  design 
shall  make  an  annul  report  to  the  state  board  of  education 
in  manner  and  form  prescribed  by  said  board  of  education. 


Ex:offlcio 
directors. 


SEC.  3.  The  state  board  of  education  are  hereby  author- 
ized and  empowered  to  elect  two  of  their  number  who,  by 
virtue  of  said  election,  shall  be  members  of  the  board  of 


directors  of  said  school  of  design. 


A 

of  state 


ent         SEC.  4.     The  state  board  of  education  are  hereby  author- 
the Rfii!aschooi  ized  to  appoint  as  state  beneficiaries  at  the  Rhode  Island 
School  of  Design,  persons  of  proper  age,  character  and  ac- 
quirements, who  have  not  the  means  of  defraying  the  ex- 
pense of  instruction  in  said  school  themselves. 


Cliap.  68.]  FACTORY  INSPECTION.  79 

SEC.  5.     The  secretary  of  the  board  of  education  shall  re-  Appointments, 

how  to  be 

ceive  and  file  in  their  order  the  applications  of  all  persons  made- 
who  desire  to  receive  such  appointment ;  and  in  making  their 
appointments  the  board  shall,  as  far  as  practicable,  make 
them  so  that  the  people  of  the  several  counties  may  partici- 
pate in  the  advantages  as  nearly  as  possible  in  proportion  to 
the  respective  populations  of  the  counties  according  to  the 
last  United  States  census. 

SEC.  6.     The  board  of  education  are  hereby  authorized  to  Tuition  fees, 

how  to  be  paid. 

draw  their  orders  on  the  general  treasurer  for  the  payment 
of  the  tuition  fees  of  the  beneficiaries  appointed  by  them  as 
above. 


CHAPTER   68. 


Of  Factory  Inspection. 


SECTION  I    SECTION 


1,  2.    C'hildren  under  12  years  of  age 
not  to  be  employed  in  factories. 


3.    Factory    inspectors ;   appointment, 
tenure  of  office  and  duties. 


SECTION  1.     No  child  under  twelve  years  of  age  shall  be 
employed  in  anjr  factory,  manufacturing  or  mercantile  estab-  JJ^p"        be 
lishment,  within  this  state.     It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every 
person,  firm  or  corporation  employing  children,  to  keep  a 
register  in  which  shall  be  recorded  the  name,  birthplace,  age  Regi 

child 

and  place  of  residence  of  every  person  employed  under  the 
age  of  sixteen  years ;  and  said  register  shall  be  produced  for 
inspection  on  demand  by  either  of  the  inspectors  appointed 
under  this  chapter. 

SEC.  2.  No  person,  firm  or  corporation  employing  less 
than  five  persons  who  are  women  or  children  shall  be  deemed 
a  factory,  manufacturing  or  mercantile  establishment  within 
the  meaning  of  this  chapter. 


80 


LAWS   PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  68. 


vacancies. 


Duties  of 
inspectors. 


388£?50w  SEC-  3-  The  governor  shall,  between  the  fifteenth  and 
ter^'of^mce.*1  thirtieth  days  of  June,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  ninety- 
seven,  and  between  the  fifteenth  and  thirtieth  days  of  June 
in  every  third  year  thereafter,  appoint  two  factory  inspectors, 
one  of  whom  shall  be  a  woman,  whose  term  of  office  shall  be 
three  years  from  date  of  their  appointment  and  until  their 
Removal  from  successors  shall  qualify.  They  shall  at  all  times  be  subject 
to  removal  by  the  governor  for  neglect  of  duty  or  malfeasance 
in  the  discharge  of  duty ;  and  in  case  of  removal  as  afore- 
said, or  of  vacancies  in  said  offices  from  any  cause,  the  gov- 
ernor shall  appoint  successors  to  fill  such  vacancies  for  the 
unexpired  term  of  said  office.  The  said  inspectors  shall  be 
empowered  to  visit  and  inspect,  at  all  reasonable  hours,  and 
as  often  as  practicable,  the  factories,  workshops  and  other 
establishments  in  the  state  employing  women  or  children, 
and  shall  report  to  the  general  assembly  of  this  state  at  its 
January  session  in  each  year,  including  in  said  report  the 
names  of  the  factories,  the  number  of  such  hands  employed, 
and  the  number  of  hours'  work  performed  each  week.  It 
shall  also  be  the  duty  of  said  inspectors  to  enforce  the  pro- 
visions of  this  chapter,  and  to  prosecute  all  violations  of  the 
same  before  any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  in  the  state. 
The  said  inspectors  shall  devote  their  whole  time  and  atten- 
tion to  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices.  In  case  of  any 
conflict  of  authority  between  the  said  inspectors,  either  of 
them  may  apply  for  instructions  to  the  governor,  whose  de- 
cision of  the  controversy,  after  hearing  the  statement  of  each 
inspector  and  making  such  further  investigation  of  the 
circumstances  as  he  may  deem  necessary,  shall  be  final. 


Chap.  85.]      DEAF,   BLIND,   AND   IMBECILE   CHILDREN. 


81 


CHAPTER  85. 

Of  Provision  for  the  Education  of  Deaf,  Blind,  and  Imbecile 

Children. 


SECTION 

1.  State  beneficiaries. 

2.  Supervision,  and  annual  report. 


SECTION 

3.  Clothing,  how  furnished. 

4.  Bills,  how  approved  and  paid. 


SECTION  1.     The  governor,  on  recommendation  of  the  state   Deaf,  blind, 

imbecile 

board  of  education,  upon  application  of  the  parent  or  guar-  °{jj|£renas 
dian,  may  appoint  any  deaf,  blind  or  imbecile   child,  being  beneficiaries- 
a  legal  resident  of  this  state,  who  shall  appear  to  said  board 
to  be  a  fit  subject  for  education,  as  a  state  beneficiary  at  any 
suitable  institution  or  school  now  established,  or  that  may  be 
established,  either  within  or  without  the  state,  for  such  period 

as  he  may  determine  :  Provided,  that  no  beneficiary  shall  re-  what  limita- 
tions. 

ceive  educational  aid  for  a  longer  time  than  ten  years ;  and 
the  governor  shall  have  the  power  to  revoke  any  such  ap- 
pointment at  any  time  for  cause.  (See  Chapter  822,  Public 
Laws.} 

SEC.  2.     The  board  of  education  are  hereby  clothed  with  ed^Sitfo^  to 
the  duty  and  responsibility  of  supervising  the  education  of  v£ion.uper 
all  such  beneficiaries,  and  no  child  appointed  as  above  shall 
be   withdrawn  from   any  institution  or  school   except  with 
their  consent,  or  the  consent  of  the  governor  ;  and  said  board  Annual  report, 
shall  annually  report  to  the  general  assembly  their  doings 
under  this  chapter,  with  such  further  information  in  relation 
to  the  several  institutions  at  which  these  beneficiaries  have 
been  placed  as  may  be  deemed  desirable. 

SEC.  3.     The  board  of  education  may  expend  in  the  pur-   clothing. 
chase  of  necessary  clothing  for  such  beneficiaries  a  sum  not 
exceeding  twenty  dollars,  in  any  calendar  year,  for  a  single 
child. 

SEC.  4.     All  bills  arising  under  this  chapter  shall  be  ex- 


82  LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.  [Chap.  86. 

Bills, how         amined  and  approved   by  the  board  of  education,  and  the 

approved  and 

pftld-  state  auditor  is  hereby  authorized  to  draw  his  orders  on  the 

general  treasurer  for  the  payment  thereof  when  properly 
certified  by  the  secretary  of  the  board  and  approved  by  the 
governor,  arid  a  sum  not  to  exceed  twelve  thousand  dollars, 
or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  needed,  is  hereby  annually  ap- 
propriated therefor  out  of  any  money  in  the  treasury  not 
otherwise  appropriated. 


CHAPTER  86. 
Of  the  Rhode  Island  Institute  for  the  Deaf. 


SECTION 


1.  Management  and  control  vested  in 

trustees. 

2.  Trustees,  how  appointed  and  term 

of  office. 

3.  Power    of    board    of    trustees    to 

admit. 


SECTION 

4.  Who  may  be  admitted.    Objects  of 

the  institute,  and  how  managed. 

5.  Trustees    to    report    annually    to 

general  assembly. 

6.  This  chapter  not  affected  by  chapter 

51,  sections  9,  10,  and  11. 


SECTION  1.  The  governor  and  lieutenant-governor  to- 
an™controiied  gether  with  nine  citizens  of  this  state,  of  whom  six  shall  be 
men  and  three  women,  to  be  appointed  as  hereinafter  pro- 
vided, shall  constitute  a  board  of  trustees  in  whom  shall  be 
vested  the  management  and  control  of  a  state  institution  for 
the  instruction  and  maintenance  of  deaf  children  in  accord- 
ance with  the  provisions  of  this  chapter.  Such  institution 
shall  be  known  as  the  Khode  Island  Institute  for  the  Deaf. 

Trustees  of,  SEC.  2.     Said  trustees,  other  than  the  governor  and  lieu- 

how  appointed, 

omceerms°f  tenant-governor,  shall  be  appointed  by  the  governor;  and 
said  trustees  now  in  office  shall  continue  to  serve,  in  classes 
of  three  each,  for  and  during  the  terms  for  which  they  were 
appointed,  respectively ;  and  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred 
ninety-seven,  and  once  in  every  two  years  thereafter,  three 
trustees  in  the  said  board  shall  in  the  same  manner  be  ap- 
pointed for  a  term  of  six  years,  to  fill  the  places  of  those 


Chap.  86.]     RHODE   ISLAND   INSTITUTE  FOB  THE  DEAF.  83 

whose  terms  shall  have  expired  ;  and  vacancies  which  may 
occur  from  death  and  resignation  shall  be  filled  by  the 
governor  for  the  remainder  of  the  unexpired  term.  The 
members  of  said  board  of  trustees  shall  receive  no  compen- 
sation for  their  services. 

SEC.  3.     The  board  of   trustees  may  admit  such   persons  Power  of  the 

board  of 

therein  as  hereinafter  is  provided.     (See  Chapter  332,  Public  adSites  to 
Laws.) 


SEC.  4.  Deaf  persons  between  the  ages  of  three  and  twenty  SmSttST  be 
years,  and  of  sufficient  capacity  for  instruction,  who  are  legal 
residents  of  the  state,  shall  be  entitled  to  the  privilege  of  the 
school  without  charge,  and  for  such  period  of  time  in  each 
individual  case  as  may  be  deemed  expedient  by  the  board  of 
trustees  ;  residents  of  other  states  may  be  admitted  upon  the 
payment  of  such  rates  of  board  and  tuition  as  may  be  fixed 
by  the  board  of  trustees.  The  primary  object  of  the  school  i^tltut^ 
shall  be  to  furnish  to  the  deaf  children  of  this  state,  oral 
instruction,  and  the  best  known  facilities  for  the  enjoyment 
of  such  a  share  of  the  benefits  of  the  system  of  free  public 
education  as  their  afflicted  condition  will  admit  of.  The 
board  of  trustees  shall  have  charge  of  the  affairs  of  the  in- 
stitution, with  power  to  make  such  by-laws  and  regulations 
for  the  government  thereof  (not  inconsistent  with  the  pro- 
visions of  this  chapter)  as  they  may  deem  expedient.  They  Management. 
shall  elect  from  their  own  number  a  president  and  secretary, 
together  with  such  standing  committees  as  they  may  deem 
necessary.  They  shall  appoint  a  principal  who  shall  be  the 
chief  executive  officer  of  the  institution,  and  shall  have  charge 
of  the  educational  and  internal  affairs  of  the  institution,  and 
shall  also,  upon  the  nomination  of  the  principal,  appoint 
teachers  and  subordinate  officers,  prescribe  the  duties  and 
terms  of  service  of  the  same,  and  fix  their  salaries,  and  for 
just  cause  remove  any  or  all  of  them.  They  shall  likewise 
employ  the  requisite  number  of  servants  and  other  assistants, 


84 


LAWS   PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  87. 


Board  of 
trustees  are  to 
report 
annually. 


This  chapter  is 
not  affected  by 
chapter  51, 
sections  9,  10 
and  11. 


and  fix  the  wages  of  the  same,  and  shall  purchase  all 
furniture,  schoolbooks,  school  apparatus  and  other  supplies 
necessary  to  the  equipment  and  carrying-on  such  institution. 
(See  Chap.  54.5,  Pub.  Laws.} 

SEC.  5.  The  board  of  trustees  shall  annually  in  the  month 
of  January  make  a  report  to  the  general  assembly,  of  the 
state  and  condition  of  the  school,  and  a  statement  of  all  ex- 
penses incurred  for  salaries,  maintenance,  tuition  and  other 
items  of  current  expense,  together  with  an  estimate  of  the 
amount  of  money  necessary  to  meet  the  current  expenses  of 
the  next  year. 

SEC.  6.  The  provisions  of  this  chapter  are  not  repealed, 
affected  or  modified  by  the  provisions  of  sections  nine,  ten 
and  eleven  of  chapter  fifty-one. 


Board  of 
control. 


Number  of 
board. 


CHAPTER  87. 
Of  the  State  Home  and  School  for  Children. 


SECTION. 

1-3.    Board  of  control;  number,  term 
of  office,  and  how  appointed. 

4.  Secretary,  duties  and  term  of  office. 

5.  Compensation  to  secretary  only,  but 

travelling  expenses  to  all. 

6.  Government  of  the  school. 

7.  What     childen    to    be    received ; 

what  may  be  returned,  when,  to 
authorities. 


SECTION 

8.  Object  of  school,  and  duty  of  the 

board. 

9.  Jurisdiction  of  probate  courts. 

10.  Board  to  keep  a  register  of  the 

children  in  the  school. 

11.  To  make  anuual  report  to  board  of 

education. 


SECTION  1.  The  control  and  maintenance  of  the  state  home 
and  school  for  dependent  and  neglected  children  shall  con- 
tinue to  be  vested  in  a  board  of  control,  to  be  called  the 
"  board  of  control  of  the  state  home  and  school."  Said  school 
shall  be  known  as  the  State  Home  and  School  for  Children. 

SEC.  2.  The  said  board  shall  consist  of  seven  persons, 
four  of  whom  shall  be  men  and  three  women,  and,  in  addition, 
of  such  person  as  may  be  secretary  of  said  board.  The 


Chap.  87.]     STATE   HOME   AND   SCHOOL  FOR   CHILDREN.  85 

terms  of  office  of  the  members  of  said  board  shall  begin  on  Terms  of  office. 
the  first  clay  of  July. 

SEC.  3.  The  governor,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  How 
of  the  senate,  shall  appoint  the  members  of  said  board,  other 
than  the  secretary  ;  and  he  shall  annually,  upon  the  expira- 
tion of  the  term  of  office  of  any  of  said  board,  appoint 
persons  to  such  office  in  place  of  those  whose  terms  shall  ex- 
pire, and  every  person  so  appointed  shall  hold  his  office  for 
three  years,  unless  sooner  removed.  Every  appointment  to 
fill  a  vacancy  shall  be  for  the  remainder  of  the  term. 


SEC.  4.  Said  board  may  appoint  a  secretary,  who  shall  by  ute  and 
virtue  of  his  office  be  a  member  of  the  board  ;  he  shall  give  term  ofa°ffice- 
bond  to  the  state  in  such  sum  as  the  board  may  require,  for 
the  faithful  performance  of  his  duties  ;  he  shall  keep  a  record 
of  all  the  doings  of  said  board,  and  shall  perform  such  other 
duties  as  may  be  by  them  required.  Such  secretary  shall 
hold  his  office  during  the  pleasure  of  the  board. 

SEC.  5.     No  member  of  the  board,  except   the  secretary,   compensation 

1    to  the  secretary 

shall  receive  any  compensation  for  his  services,  but  every  emng^xpe^ses 
member  shall  be  paid  out  of  the  state  treasury  his  necessary 
travelling  expenses. 

SEC.  6.     The  said  board  shall  establish  a  system  of  govern-   Government  of 

the  school. 

ment  for  the  institution,  and  shall  make  all  necessary  rules 
and  regulations  for  imparting  instruction,  and  for  the  proper 
training  of  the  children.  They  shall  appoint  such  officers, 
.teachers  and  employees  as  shall  be  necessary,  and  prescribe 
their  duties  and  fix  their  salaries. 

SEC.  7.     They  shall  receive,  in  accordance  with  rules  by  what  children 

are  to  be 

them  established,  such  children  as  may  be  declared  vagrant,   received- 
neglected  and  dependent  on  the  public  for  support,  as  pro- 
vided in  this  chapter,  who  are  over  four  and  under  fourteen 
years  of  age,  and  who  are  in  a  suitable  condition  of  mind  and 


86 


LAWS   PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  87. 


Children  re- 
ceived, to  be 
returned, 
when,  to 
authorities. 


Object  of  the 
school,  and 
duty  of  the 
board  to  carry 
out  the  pur- 
poses of  this 
chapter. 


body  to  be  instructed ;  for  exceptional  reasons,  children  under 
four  years  may  be  received,  should  the  board  deem  it  advis- 
able. Any  child  who  shall  be  found  by  the  board  to  be  of 
unsound  mind,  or  who  may  be  considered  by  the  board  an 
improper  inmate  of  said  institution,  shall  be  forthwith  re- 
turned by  them  to  the  authorities  from  whom  said  child  was 
received,  who  are  hereby  required  to  receive  the  same  ;  and 
all  children  admitted  shall  remain  until  they  are  eighteen 
years  of  age,  unless  otherwise  ordered  by  the  board. 

SEC.  8.  It  is  declared  to  be  the  object  of  this  chapter  to 
provide  for  neglected  and  dependent  children,  not  recognized 
as  vicious  or  criminal,  such  influences  as  will  lead  toward  an 
honest,  intelligent  and  self-supporting  manhood  and  woman- 
hood, the  state,  so  far  as  possible,  holding  to  them  the  paren- 
tal relation.  But  if  at  any  time,  in  the  discretion  of  the 
board,  this  object  can  be  better  attained  by  placing  a  child 
in  a  good  family,  they  shall  have  the  power  to  do  so  on  con- 
dition that  its  education  shall  be  provided  for  by  such  family 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  town  or  city  where  they  may  re- 
side. The  board  are  hereby  made  the  legal  guardians  of  all 
the  children  who  may  become  inmates  of  the  home  and  school, 
and  charged  with  the  duty  of  following  such  children  as  may 
be  placed  in  families,  with  watchful  care,  and  of  taking  them 
back  to  their  own  immediate  supervision  if  at  any  time  they 
fail  to  receive  kind  and  proper  treatment  and  a  fair  elemen- 
tary education  ;  and  in  case  any  child  shall  leave  without 
permission,  or  be  taken  by  any  person  unauthorized  from 
said  institution  or  from  any  family  where  it  shall  have  been, 
placed  by  said  board,  then  said  board  is  hereby  authorized 
take  and  restore  said  child  to  said  institution  or  to  the  f  amil1 


SEC.  9.     It  shall   be  the  duty  of  the   superintendents 


Certain  officers 
are  to  bring  the 

tempia?edcb?~     overseers  of  the  poor  in  the  several  towns  to,  and  any  agent 

befojecSurtaf  of  the  Khode  Island  Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to' 

Children  may,  bring  before  the  courts  of  probate  of  such 


Chap.  87.]     STATE   HOME   AND   SCHOOL   FOR   CHILDREN.  87 

towns  for  examination,  children  supported  in  poorhouses  or 
otherwise  dependent  on  the  public  for  support,  or  other 
children  found  to  be  in  a  state  of  vagrancy,  want,  or  suffer- 
ing, or  abandoned  by  their  parents  or  guardians  or  not  having 
any  home  or  settled  abode  or  proper  guardianship;  and  there-  Jurisdiction  of 
upon  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  court  of  probate  before  whom  bate  herein. 
any  such  child  is  brought,  to  investigate  the  facts  and  ascer- 
tain if  the  child  is  so  supported,  or  is  in  a  state  of  vagrancy, 
want,  and  suffering,  or  is  abandoned  by  its  parents  or  guard- 
ians, or  is  without  home  or  settled  abode  or  proper  guardian- 
ship, and  also  to  ascertain  its  name,  age  and  place  of  birth, 
and  the  names  and  residence  of  its  parents  or  guardians,  if  it 
have  any,  and  where  and  for  what  length  of  time,  if  at  all,  it 
has  been  supported  at  the  expense  of  the  town  or  state ;  and 
said  courts  of  probate  shall  have  power  to  compel  attendance 
of  witnesses.  The  parents  or  any  friend  may  appear  in  be-  J^dsiiw- 
half  of  any  .child,  and  the  court  of  probate  in  its  discretion  ohSdarf°r 
may  request  some  suitable  person  to  appear  in  behalf  of  any 
child ;  and  if  on  such  examination  the  court  shall  find  that 
such  child  is  so  supported  or  dependent,  or  is  in  a  state  of  l 
vagrancy,  want,  and  suffering,  or  is  so  abandoned,  or  without 
home  or  settled  abode  or  proper  guardianship,  it  shall  make  a 
proper  order  containing  a  statement  of  the  facts  ascertained  as 
to  said  child,  and  entrusting  said  child  to  the  care  and  custody 
of  the  said  board,  together  with  a  direction  to  the  superintend- 
ent or  overseer  of  the  poor  to  take  said  child  to  the  state 
home  and  school,  and  shall  deliver  to  the  superintendent  or 
overseer  of  the  poor,  or  other  person  procuring  such  exam- 
ination, a  certified  copy  thereof.  Such  certified  copy  of  such 
order  shall  then  be  delivered  with  the  child  at  the  home  and 
school,  to  the  presiding  officer  thereof.  All  expenses  attend- 
ing  the  foregoing  proceedings  shall  be  paid  by  the  town  or  * 
city  in  which  the  child  belongs  :  Provided,  that  children  be-  Proviso  as  to 

children  in 

tween  the  ages  of  four  and  fourteen  supported  in  the  state  alms- 
house  may  be  brought  before  the  probate  court  of  the  town 


88 


LAWS   PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.  [Chap.  87. 


Expenses  to  be    &$  j 

paid  by  the 

state. 


Register  of 
children. 


Annual  report 
to  be  made  to 
state  board  of 
education. 


Board  of  educa- 
tion to  report 
to  general 
assembly. 


of  Cranston  by  the  agent  of  the  board  of  state  charities  and 
corrections,  and  said  court  is  hereby  clothed  with  the  same 
power  over  such  children,  and  such  proceedings  may  be  had, 
ey  were  regularly  domiciled  in  said  town  ;  and  all  ex- 
penses incident  to  the  hearings  in  said  cases  before  said  pro- 
bate court  shall  be  paid  by  the  state,  and  the  state  auditor 
is  hereby  authorized  to  draw  his  orders  for  the  payment  of 
all  such  bills,  when  certified  by  the  secretary  of  the  board  of 
control  of  the  state  home  and  school,  out  of  any  money  in 
the  treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated. 

SEC.  10.  The  board  shall  provide  a  book  in  which  shall  be 
registered  the  names,  ages  and  places  of  birth  of  the  children 
under  their  care ;  the  residence  of  the  parents  or  guardians 
as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained  ;  the  date  when  each  child  is 
received  and  from  what  town,  and  when  he  leaves  the  school ; 
and  whenever  a  child  is  placed  in  a  family,  the  name,  resi- 
dence and  occupation  of  such  family  ;  and  such  book  shall  be 
open  at  all  times  for  the  inspection  of  the  probate  clerks  and 
the  overseers  of  the  poor,  of  the  several  cities  and  towns  of 
the  state. 

SEC.  11.  The  said  board  of  control  shall  annually  report 
to  the  state  board  of  education,  in  the  month  of  November, 
upon  the  condition  of  the  school,  the  number  of  inmates 
thereof,  the  expenditures  for  the  year,  and  their  estimates  for 
the  year  ensuing,  together  with  such  other  matters  as  may  seem 
desirable  ;  which  report  shall  be  included  by  said  state  board 
of  education  in  its  annual  report  to  the  general  assembly. 


CHAPTER  111. 
Of  Dogs. 


SECTION 

10.    Dogs  to  be  licensed,  fees  :  penalty. 
15,  16.    Mode  of  appraising  damage  by 


SECTION 


dogs.    Balance  to  be  applied  for 
support  of  public  schools. 


€hap.  111.]  DOGS.  89 

SECTION  10.     Every  owner  or  keeper  of  a  dog,  of  what  age  Dogs  to  be 

,,  ,  licensed,  etc., 

soever,  shall  annually  in  the  month  of  April  cause  such  dog  to   in  April  ; 

be  registered,  numbered,  described  and   licensed   from  the 

first  day  of  the  ensuing  June,  in  the  office  of  the  town  clerk 

of  the  town  wherein  such  owner  or  keeper  resides  ;  and  shall 

cause  it  to  wear  a  collar  around  its  neck  distinctly  marked 

with  its  owner's  name  and  with  its  registered  number  ;  and 

shall  pay  to  such  clerk,  for  such  license,  one  dollar  and  fifteen  fees  therefor. 

cents  for  a  male  dog  and  five  dollars  and  fifteen  cents  for  a 

female  dog  ;  and  all  licenses  granted  under  the  provisions  of 

this  chapter  shall  be  valid  in  every  town  during  the  then  cur- 

rent year  ;  Provided,  however,  that  any  owner  or  keeper  of  a  May  be 

licensed,  in 

doer  of  what  a^e  soever  may,  in  the  month  of  May  in  any  year,   May  ;  fees 

'    therefor. 

have  such  dog  licensed  as  aforesaid,  upon  paying  to  such 
clerk  two  dollars  and  fifteen  cents  for  a  male  dog  and  six  dol- 
lars and  fifteen  cents  for  a  female  dog  ;  and  provided  further,  when  to  be 

licensed  within 


that  any  person  who  shall  become  the  owner  or  keeper  of  a  dog, 

of  what  age  soever,  after  the  last  day  in  May  in  each  year,  and 

prior  to  the  first  day  of  April  following,  shall  cause  the  same 

to  be  registered,  numbered,  collared  and  licensed,  within  thirty 

days  after  he  becomes  such  owner  or  keeper,  upon  the  pay- 

ment of  one  dollar  and  fifteen  cents  for  a  male  dog  and  five 

dollars  and  fifteen  cents  for  a  female   dog.     Every   person   penalty. 

owning  or  keeping  a  dog  not  registered,  licensed  and  collared 

according  to  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  be  fined  ten 

dollars,  one  half  thereof  to  the  use  of  the  complainant  and 

one  half  thereof  to  the  use  of  the  town  wherein  such  dog  shall 

have  been  kept,  to  be  applied  by  the  said  town  to  the  support  For  support  of 

public  schools. 

of  public  schools  therein. 

SEC.  15.     Each    town    or    city    council,    excepting    town   Appraisers  of 

damage  done 

and  city  councils  in  the  county  of  Newport,  shall  annually 
in  the  month  of  April  appoint  one  or  more  suitable  persons 
appraisers,  who  shall  be  sworn  to  the  faithful  discharge  of 
their  duties,  to  appraise  the  damage  that  may  be  done  to  any 


90 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.          [Chap.  111. 


Mode  of 
appraising 
damage ; 
damages  how 
paid. 


Balance  to  be 
applied  to 
school  fund, 
except  when. 


owner  of  any  sheep  or  lambs,  cattle  or  horses,  hogs  or  fowls, 
suffering  loss  by  reason  of  the  biting,  maiming  or  killing 
thereof  by  any  dog  or  dogs,  and  to  give  a  statement  thereof 
in  writing  to  the  owner  suffering  such  loss  ;  and  such  owner, 
suffering  loss  as  aforesaid,  shall,  within  two  days  after  such 
loss  shall  come  to  his  knowledge,  notify  the  appraiser,  so  ap- 
pointed and  sworn,  living  nearest  to  him  in  the  town  wherein 
such  owner  resides,  of  such  loss ;  and  said  appraiser  shall, 
on  receipt  of  twenty-five  cents  for  each  mile's  travel  and  the 
sum  of  one  dollar  from  such  owner,  appraise  the  damage  and 
give  a  statement  thereof  in  writing,  with  his  lawful  fees  taxed 
thereon,  to  such  owner;  and  said  owner  shall,  within  sixty 
days  thereafter,  present  the  same  to  the  town  council  of  such 
town,  who  shall  draw  an  order  on  the  town  treasurer  for  the 
amount  of  such  appraisal  and  fees,  or  for  such  other  amount 
as  they,  in  their  discretion,  after  careful  examination,  shall 
deem  just ;  and  said  order,  when  presented  to  the  town  treas- 
urer, shall  be  paid  in  the  same  manner  as  any  other  order 
made  by  the  town  council  upon  the  town  treasurer;  and 
should  any  money,  received  under  the  provisions  of  this  chap- 
ter, remain  in  the  town  treasury  after  April  first,  the  town 
treasurer  shall,  on  the  first  Monday  in  May  following,  pay 
over  the  whole  of  such  money  so  remaining  to  the  school 
fund  of  such  town  for  the  support  of  the  public  schools 
therein  ;  Provided,  however,  that  any  town,  at  its  annual  meet- 
ing or  at  a  town  meeting  specially  called  for  that  purpose, 
may  vote  to  retain  such  money  as  a  separate  fund  for  the 
payment  of  damages  done  as  aforesaid. 


Same  subject: 
in  Newport 
county. 


SEC.  16.  Each  town  or  city  council  in  the  county  of  New- 
port shall  annually  in  the  month  of  April  appoint  one  or 
more  suitable  persons  appraisers,  who  shall  be  sworn  to  the 
faithful  discharge  of  their  duties,  to  appraise  the  damage 
that  may  be  done  to  any  owner  of  any  sheep  or  lambs,  cattle, 
horses,  hogs  or  fowls,  suffering  loss  by  reason  of  the  biting, 


Chap.  111.]  DOGS.  91 

maiming-  or  killing  thereof  by  any  dog,  and  to  give  a  state- 
ment thereof  in  writing  to  the  owner  suffering  loss  ;  and  such 


owner,  suffering  loss  as  aforesaid,  shall,  within  two  days  after  daSafeahow 

such  loss  shall  come  to  his  knowledge,  notify  the  appraiser, 

so  appointed  and  sworn,  living  nearest  to  him  in  the  town 

wherein  such  owner  resides,  of  such  loss  ;  and  said  appraiser 

shall,  on  receipt  of  twenty  cents  for  each  mile's  travel  and 

the  sum  of  one  dollar  from  such  owner,  appraise  the  damage 

and  give  a  statement  thereof  in  writing,  with  his  lawful  fees 

taxed  thereon  to  such  owner  ;  and  said  owner  shall,  within 

sixty  days  thereafter,  present  to  the  town  or  city  council  of 

the  town  or  city  where  such  damage  is  done  the  appraisal 

thereof,  and  thereupon  the  town  or  city  council  of  such  town 

or  city   shall  draw  an  order  on  the  town  or  city  treasurer 

for  the  amount  of  such  appraisal  and  fees,  or  for  such  other 

amount  as  they,  in  their  discretion,  after  careful  examination, 

shall  deem  just.     And  such  town  or  city  treasurer  shall  an- 

nually, on  the  last  Monday  in  March,  pay  all  such  orders  in 

full,  if  the  gross  amount  thus  received  by  such  town  or  city 

under  the  provisions  of  this  chapter,  after  deducting  all  sums 

previously  laid  out  under  such  provisions,  is  sufficient  there- 

for ;  otherwise  the  town  or  city  treasurer  shall  divide  such 

amount,  after  deducting  as  aforesaid,  pro  rata  among  said 

orders,  and  the  payment  thereof  shall  be  in  full  discharge  of 

such  orders  ;  and  should  any  money,  received  under  the  pro-   Balance  to  be 

applied  to 

visions  of   this  chapter,  remain   in  the  town  treasury  after  Incept  when 

payment  provided  for  herein,  the  town  or  city  treasurer  shall, 

on  the  first  Monday  in  May  following,  pay  over  the  whole  of 

such  money  so  remaining  to  the  school  fund  of  such  town  or 

city  for  the  town  or  city  for  the  support  of  the  public  schools 

therein  :  Provided,  however,  that  any  town  in  said  county  at 

its  annual  meeting,  or  at  a  town  meeting  specially  called  for 

that  purpose,  or  any  city  in  said  county  by  its  city  council,  may 

vote  to  retain  such  money  as  a  separate  fund  for  the  payment 

of  damages  done  as  aforesaid. 


92 


Holidays. 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.          [Chap.  166, 

CHAPTER  166. 

Of  Bills  of  Exchange  and  Promissory  Notes,  and  of 
Legal  Interest. 

SECTION  8.    What  days  shall  be  holidays. 

SECTION  8.  The  twenty-second  day  of  February  (as  Wash- 
ing-ton's birthday),  the  first  Wednesday  of  April  (as  State  elec- 
tion day),  the  thirtieth  day  of  May  (as  Memorial  day),  the 
fourth  day  of  July  (as  Independence  day),  the  first  Monday 
of  September  (as  Labor  day),  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  Decem- 
ber (as  Christmas  day),  and  each  of  said  days  in  every  year, 
such  day  as  the  governor  of  this  state  shall  appoint  as  Arbor 
day  in  every  year,  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday 
of  November  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  ninety-six  and  in 
every  second  year  thereafter  (as  National  election  day),  or 
when  either  of  the  said  days  falls  on  the  first  day  of  the  week, 
then  the  day  following  it,  the  first  day  of  every  week  (com- 
monly called  Sunday),  and  such  other  days  as  the  governor 
or  general  assembly  of  this  state,  or  the  president  or  the 
congress  of  the  United  States,  shall  appoint  as  holidays  for 
any  purpose,  days  of  thanksgiving,  or  days  of  solemn  fast,, 
shall  be  holidays.  (See  Chapter  83^  Public  Laws.} 


CHAPTER  176. 
Of  Incorporation. 


SECTION 

11.  Miscellaneous     corporations     are 

formed  by  what  articles  of  agree- 
ment, how  executed,  and,  with 
certificate  of  fee  paid, where  filed. 
Form  of  certificate  of  incorpora- 
tion. 

12.  Certificate  of  incorporation   con- 

fers what  powers. 


SECTION 

13.  Such  corporation  may  hold  prop- 

erty to  what  amount. 

14.  Articles    of    agreement    may   be 

amended,  how. 

15.  Certified  copies  of  incorporations 

are  admissible  in  evidence. 


Chap.  176.]  INCORPORATION.  93 

SECTION  11.     All  libraries,  lyceums,  fire  engine  companies, 


and  corporations  formed  for  religious,  charitable,  literary,  howf< 
scientific,  artistic,  social,  musical,  agricultural  or  sporting  pur- 
poses, not  organized  for  business  purposes,  and  all  other  cor- 
porations of  like  nature  not  hereinbefore  otherwise  provided 
for,  shall  be  created  in  the  following  manner,  viz.  :  Five  or 
more  persons  of  lawful  age  shall  associate  by  written  articles 
which  shall  express  : 

First.     Their  agreement  to  form  said  corporation  ;  Agreement, 

Second.     The  name  by  which  it  shall  be  known,  which  name   Name. 
shall  not  then  be  in  use  by  any  existing  corporation  of  the 
state  ; 

Th'rrd.     The  purpose  for  which  it  is  constituted  ;  Purpose. 

Fourth.     The  town  or  city  in  which  it  is  to  be  located.          Location. 

Said  agreement  shall  be  signed  and  acknowledged  by  all  mStlSsigned, 
the  members  named  therein,  and  shall  prescribe  the  manner  andnfliedin     ' 

office  of  the 

in  which  the  first  meeting"  shall  be  held  and  organized.    Said  secretary  of 

state,  with  a 

agreement  shall  be  filed  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  state, 


and  said  persons  shall  pay  a  fee  of  five  dollars  into  the  gen- 

eral treasury  of  the  state.     When  said  agreement  has  been 

so  filed,  together  with  the  certificate  of  the  general  treasurer 

that  the  fee  of  five  dollars  has  been  paid,  and  the  sum  of  one 

dollar  has  been  paid  to  said  secretary  of  state  for  the  certifi-   secretary  of  by 

cate  hereinafter  required,  the  secretary  of  state  shall  there- 

upon issue  to  said  corporation  his  certificate,  under  the  seal 

of  the  state,  substantially  in  the  following  form:  — 

STATE  OF  RHODE  ISLAND  AND  PROVIDENCE  PLANTATIONS. 

I,  secretary  of  state,  hereby  certify  that  {here  insert 

names  of  all  the  corporators'}  have  filed  in  the  office  of  the 
secretary  of  state  their  agreement  to  form  a  corporation  un- 
der the  name  of  {here  insert  name  of  corporation}  for  the  pur- 
pose [here  insert  purpose'}  in  accordance  with  law,  and  have 
also  filed  the  certificate  of  the  general  treasurer  that  they 


LAWS   PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.          [Chap.  176. 


Certificate  to 
confer  what 
powers. 


have  paid  into  the  general  treasury  of  the  state  the  fee  re- 
quired by  law. 

Witness  my  hand  and  the  seal  of  the  state  of  Khode  Island 
this  day  of  in  the  year 

SEC.  12.  When  said  certificate  has  been  issued  as  afore- 
said said  corporators  shall  be  authorized  to  carry  out  the 
purpose  of  such  agreement  with  all  the  powers  and  subject 
to  all  the  duties  and  liabilities  as  provided  herein  and  in 
chapter  one  hundred  seventy-seven  and  all  amendments 
thereof  and  additions  thereto,  so  far  as  not  inconsistent  with 
the  provisions  of  this  chapter,  and  so  far  as  the  provisions  of 
said  chapter  one  hundred  seventy-seven  shall  be  applicable 
to  such  corporation. 


May  hold 
property  to 
amount  of 
$100,000;  in 


SEC.  13.  Said  corporation  shall  be  entitled  to  take,  hold, 
transmit  and  convey  real  and  personal  estate  to  an  amount 
by°sepeciaiereofl  not  exceeding  in  all  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  But  if 
such  corporation  desires  to  take  and  hold  property  to  an 
amount  exceeding  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  either  orig- 
inally or  by  amendment,  such  privilege  shall  be  granted  only 
by  the  general  assembly  on  petition  thereto. 


Articles  of 
agreement  may 
be  amended, 
how,  except- 
ing as  provided 
in  section  13. 


Copies,  when 
certified  by 
secretary  of 
state,  to  be 
taken  in 
evidence. 


SEC.  14.  Such  agreement  may  be  amended  in  any  partic- 
ular not  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of  this  chapter, 
excepting  as  provided  in  the  preceding  section,  by  vote  of 
the  corporation  and  the  filing  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of 
state  of  a  copy  of  such  vote  duly  attested  by  the  president 
and  secretary  of  said  corporation. 

SEC.  15.  Copies  of  agreements  to  form  corporations,  when 
formed  by  agreement,  or  of  any  amendment  thereof,  and  the 
fact  of  their  being  filed  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  state 
and  the  date  of  such  filing,  and  the  filing  of  the  certificate  of 
the  general  treasurer,  shall,  when  certified  to  by  the  secretary 
of  state,  be  received  in  evidence  before  any  court,  tribunal  or 
authority. 


Chap.  279.]   OFFENCES  AGAINST  PRIVATE  PROPERTY. 


95 


CHAPTER   278. 
Of  Offences  Against  Public  Peace. 

SECTION  7.    Disturbing  town,  ward,  religious,  scientific,  etc.,  meetings,  how  punished. 

SECTION  7.  Every  person  who  shall  wilfully  interrupt  or  dis- 
turb  any  town  or  ward  meeting,  any  assembly  or  people  met  iQgslng  mee< 
for  religious  worship,  any  public  or  private  school,  any  meet- 
ing lawfully  and  peaceably  held  for  purposes  of  moral,  liter- 
ary or  scientific  improvement,  or  any  other  lawful  meeting, 
exhibition  or  entertainment,  either  within  or  without  the 
place  where  such  meeting  or  school  is  held,  shall  be  impris- 
oned not  exceeding  one  year  or  be  fined  not  exceeding  five 
hundred  dollars. 


CHAPTER   279. 
Of  Offences  Against  Private  Property. 


SECTION 

52.  Of  malicious  mischief  to  books,  etc., 

of  free  public  libraries. 

53.  Of  neglect  to  return  to  such  libra- 


SECTION 


ries,  books,  pamphlets,  etc.,  after 
due  notice. 


SECTION  52.   Every  person  who,  wilfully  and  maliciously  or  penalty  for 

malicious 

wantonly  and  without  cause,  writes  upon,  injures,  defaces,  mtaohiefto  Qf 

tears  or  destroys  any  book,  pamphlet,  plate,  picture,  engrav- 

ing  or  statue,  or  other  property  belonging  to  any  law,  town, 

city  or  other  free  public  library,  or  suffers  any  such  injury 

to  be  inflicted  while  said  property  is  in  his  custody,  shall  be 

fined  not  less  than  one  dollar  nor  more  than  ten  dollars,  the 

same  to  be  for  the  use  of  the  library. 


SEC.  53. 


Every  person  who  shall  take  or  borrow  from  any  of  neglect  to 

J    '  J     return  to  such 


law,  town,  city  or  other  free  or  public  library  any  book,  pam-  pamphiebts,°ks' 
phlet,  paper  or  other  property  of  said  library  and  who,  upon 


etc.,  after  due 


96 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.          [Chap.  283. 

neglect  to  return  the  same  within  the  time  required  and  spec- 
ified in  the  by-laws,  rules  or  regulations  of  the  library  owning 
the  property,  has  been  notified  by  the  librarian  or  other 
proper  custodian  of  the  property  that  the  same  is  overdue, 
shall,  upon  further  neglect  to  return  the  same  within  two 
weeks  from  the  date  of  such  notice,  be  considered  to  have 
unlawfully  converted  the  property  of  the  library  to  his  own 
use.  A  written  or  printed  notice,  given  personally  or  sent  by 
mail  to  the  last  known  or  registered  place  of  residence,  shall 
be  considered  a  sufficient  notice. 


Flags  or  em- 
blems of  for- 
eign countries 
not  to  be  dis- 
played upon 
public  build- 
ings and 
schoolhouses. 


CHAPTEK   283. 
Of  Offences  Against  Public  Policy. 

SEC.  29.    Flags  or  emblems  of  foreign  countries  not  to  be  displayed  upon 
public  buildings  and  schoolhouses. 

SECTION  29.  It  shall  be  unlawful  to  display  the  flag  or  em- 
blem of  any  foreign  country  upon  the  flagstaff  of  any  state, 
county,  city  or  town  building  or  public  schoolhouse  within 
this  state :  Provided,  however,  that  when  any  foreigner  shall 
become  the  guest  of  the  United  States,  or  of  this  state,  the 
flag  of  the  country  of  which  such  public  guest  shall  be  a 
citizen  or  subject  may  be  displayed  upon  public  buildings, 
except  public  schoolhouses.  Every  person  who  shall  violate 
the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  be  fined  not  less  than 
twenty -five  nor  more  than  one  hundred  dollars. 


PUBLIC   LAWS. 


CHAPTER  304. 

AN  ACT  IN  AMENDMENT  OF  CHAPTER  55  OF  THE  GENERAL   PassedJan- 

uary  31,  1896. 
LAWS,  "OF  THE  POWERS  OF  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS." 

It  is  enacted  ly  the  General  Assembly  as  follows  : 
SECTION  1.    Every  school  district  deciding-  to  elect  three  of  the  election 

of  trustees  of 

trustee  under  the  provisions  of  Chapter  55  of  the  General 
Laws,  may  at  its  annual  meeting  for  the  election  of  school 
district  officers  elect  one  of  such  trustees  for  a  term  of  three 
years,  one  for  a  term  of  two  years  and  one  for  a  term  of  one 
year;  and  annually  thereafter  shall  be  elected  one  trustee  to 
serve  for  the  term  of  three  years. 

SEC.     2.     All  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  with  this 
act  are  hereby  annulled. 

SEC.  3.     This  act  shall  take  effect  on  and  after  February 
1st,  1896. 


CHAPTER  322. 

AN  ACT  IN  AMENDMENT  OF  CHAPTER  85  OF  THE  GENERAL    Passed  April 

29,  1896. 

LAWS,    "OF    PROVISION    FOR    THE    EDUCATION    OF    THE 
DEAF,  BLIND  AND  IMBECILE  CHILDREN." 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows  : 

SECTION  1.     Section  1  of  Chapter  85  of  the  General  Laws 
is  hereby  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows : 

13 


98  LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.          [Chap.  332. 

peaf,  blind  or        "SECTION  1.     The   governor,   on  recommendation   of   the 

imbecile  cnila- 

po?n?edy8tltlp"  state  board  of  education,  upon  application  of  the  parent  or 

beneficiaries  to  -..  ..  i       *     i  i*      i  •      i         M          I-IT 

certain  institu-  guardian,  may  appoint  any  deaf,  blind  or  imbecile  child, 
being  a  legal  resident  of  this  state,  who  shall  appear  to  said 
board  to  be  a  fit  subject  for  education,  as  a  state  beneficiary 
at  any  suitable  institution  or  school  now  established,  or  that 
may  be  established,  either  within  or  without  the  state,  for  such 
period  as  he  may  determine,  within  the  limit  of  ten  years : 
Provided,  that  he  may,  upon  the  special  recommendation  of 
the  state  board  of  education,  extend  the  period,  and  that  he 
shall  have  the  power  to  revoke  any  appointment  at  any  time 
for  cause." 

SEC.  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  and  after  its  passage, 
and  all  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  herewith  are  here- 
by repealed. 


CHAPTER  332. 

Passed  May  13,    AN  ACT   IN  AMENDMENT   OF  AND   IN   ADDITION   TO    CHAP- 

lO«A>. 

TER  86  OF  THE  GENERAL  LAWS,  ENTITLED  "OF  THE  R.  I. 
SCHOOL  FOR  THE  DEAF." 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows  : 

2JdSSyRatf.  SECTION  1.  All  children  of  parents,  or  under  the  control 
the  Deaf.  °'  of  guardians  or  other  persons,  legal  residents  of  this  state, 
between  the  ages  of  three  and  twenty  years,  whose  hearing  or 
speech,  or  both,  are  so  defective  as  to  make  it  inexpedient  or 
impracticable  to  attend  the  public  schools  to  advantage,  not 
being  mentally  or  otherwise  incapable,  may  attend  the  Ehode 
Island  Institute  for  the  Deaf,  without  charge,  under  such 
rules  and  regulations  as  the  board  of  trustees  of  said  institute 
may  establish. 

SEC.  2.    Every  person  having  under  his  control  any  such 


Chap.  334.]    AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  GENERAL  LAWS.  99 


child  between  the  ages  of   seven  and  eighteen  years,  shall          to  attend 

cause  such  child  to  attend  school  at  said  institute  for  such   said  institute- 

period  of  time  or  such  prescribed  course,  in  each  individual 

case,  as  may  be  deemed  expedient  by  the  board  of  trustees 

and  for  any  neglect  of  such   duty  the  person  so  offending 

shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  twenty  dollars  :  Provided,  that  ExcePtions- 

if  the  person  so  charged,  shall  prove  to  the  satisfaction  of 

said  board  that  the  child  has  received  or  is  receiving,  under 

private  or  other  instruction,  an  education  suitable  to  his  con- 

dition, in  the  judgment  of  said  board,  then  such  penalty  shall 

not  be  incurred  :  provided  further,  that  no  child  shall  be  re- 

moved to  said  institution  or  taken  from  the  custody  of  its 

parent  or  guardian  except  as  a  day  scholar  unless  such  parent' 

or  guardian  is  an  improper   person  to  have  such  custody, 

and  the  supreme  court  in  its  appellate  division  shall  have 

jurisdiction  in  habeas  corpus  to  examine  into  and  revise  all 

findings  of  said  board  of  trustees  under  this  act. 

SEC.  3.  Any  child  having  attended  said  institute  a  time 
or  course  prescribed  by  said  board,  upon  leaving  the  insti- 
tute shall  be  entitled  to  receive  a  certificate  of  his  proficiency 
from  said  board. 

SEC.  4.  This  act  shall  take  effect  from  and  after  its  pas- 
sage. 


CHAPTER  334. 

AN  ACT  IN  AMENDMENT  OF  CHAPTER  165  OF  THE  GENERAL    Passed  May  13, 

lOtTO. 

LAWS. 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows  : 

SECTION  1.     Section  8  of  Chapter  166  of  the  General  Laws  Arnba°t^dday  des- 
is  hereby  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows : 


100  LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.          [Chap.  419. 

"  SEC.  8.  The  twenty-second  day  of  February  (as  Wash- 
ington's birthday),  the  first  Wednesday  of  April  (as  State 
election  day),  the  thirtieth  day  of  May  (as  Memorial  day), 
the  fourth  day  of  July  (as  Independence  day),  the  first  Monday 
of  September  (as  Labor  day),  the  twenty -fifth  day  of  Decem- 
ber (as  Christmas  day),  the  second  Friday  in  May  (as  Arbor 
day),  and  each  of  said  days  in  every  year,  the  Tuesday  next 
after  the  first  Monday  of  November  in  the  year  eighteen 
hundred  ninety-six  and  in  every  second  year  thereafter  (as 
National  election  day),  or  when  either  of  the  said  days  falls 
on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  then  the  day  following  it,  the 
first  day  of  every  week  (commonly  called  Sunday),  and  such 
other  days  as  the  governor  or  general  assembly  of  this  state, 
or  the  president  or  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  shall 
appoint  as  holidays  for  any  purpose,  days  of  thanksgiving, 
or  days  of  solemn  fast,  shall  be  holidays." 

SEC.  2.    This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 


CHAPTER  419. 

Passed  Oct.  2,  AN  ACT  IN  AMENDMENT  OF  CHAPTER  63  OF  THE  GENERAL 
LAWS,  "  OF  THE  NORMAL  SCHOOL,  TEACHERS'  INSTITUTES, 
AND  LECTURES." 

It  is  enacted  ly  the  general  assembly  as  follows  : 

SECTION  1.    Section  5  of  Chapter  63  of  the  General  Laws 
is  hereby  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows : 


"SEa  5'  The  trustees  of  the  Normal  School  may  pay  to 
each  pupil  who  shall  reside  within  the  State  and  not  within 
five  miles  of  said  school,  who  shall  have  been  duly  admitted 
thereto,  and  who  shall  have  attended  the  regular  sessions  of 
said  school  and  complied  with  the  regulations  thereof  during 


Chap.  420.]     AMENDMENTS  TO   THE  GENERAL  LAWS.  101 

the  term  next  preceding  such  payments,  not  exceeding  ten 
dollars  for  each  quarter  year  for  travelling  expenses  ;  but 
such  payments  in  the  aggregate  for  such  travelling  expenses 
shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars  in  any  one 
year,  and  shall  be  made  to  the  respective  pupils  entitled  to 
the  same  in  proportion  to  the  distance  they  may  reside  from 
said  school." 

SEC.  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  and  after  its  passage, 
and  all  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  herewith  are  hereby 
repealed. 


CHAPTER  420. 

AX  ACT  IN  AMENDMENT  OF  CHAPTER  65  OF  THE  GENERAL    ggsed  Oct.  2, 
LAWS,   ENTITLED   "GENERAL  PROVISIONS  RELATING  TO 
PUBLIC  SCHOOLS." 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.     Sections  9  and  10  of  Chapter  65  of  the  General  S^fgandTo: 
Laws  are  hereby  repealed. 

SEC.  2.     In  the  city  of  Providence,  the  school  committee  Powers  of 

school  commit- 

of  said  city  shall  hereafter  employ  the  superintendent  and  dence.Pr°vi" 
teachers,  have  charge  and  custody  of  all  school  buildings  and 
school  property,  manage  and  regulate  the  schools,  and  draw 
all  orders  for  payment  of  their  expenses  from  the  money  ap- 
propriated by  the  city  council  for  the  support  of  public 
schools :  Provided,  however ',  that  the  city  council  of  said  city 
shall  have  the  expenditure  of  all  sums  appropriated  for  the 
purchase  of  land  for  school  purposes  or  for  the  improvement 
of  the  same  or  for  the  construction  or  repair  of  school  build- 
ings. 

SEC.  3.     This  ac;t  shall  take  effect  from  and  after  its  pas- 
sage. 


102 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.          [Chap.  485, 


CHAPTER  485. 

Passed  May  21,  AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  CREATION  AND  DISBURSE- 
MENT OF  A  PUBLIC  SCHOOL  TEACHERS'  RETIREMENT  FUND 
IN  THE  CITY  OF  PROVIDENCE. 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows  : 


School  com- 
mittee of  Prov- 
idence author- 
ized to  estab- 
lish a  Public 
School  Teach- 
ers' Retire- 
ment Fund. 


Fund  to  be  ad- 
ministered by 
whom. 


SECTION  1.  The  school  committee  of  the  city  of  Provi- 
dence shall  have  power  to  establish  what  shall  be  known  as 
the  Public  School  Teachers'  Ketirement  Fund,  which  fund 
shall  be  administered  by  the  board  of  trustees  hereinafter 
provided  for.  Said  fund  shall  consist  of  :  - 

First.  All  moneys  received  from  donations,  legacies,  gifts', 
bequests,  or  otherwise,  for  or  on  account  of  said  fund. 

Second.  On  and  after  October  first  eighteen  hundred 
ninety-seven,  the  school  committee  shall  reserve  and  turn 
over  to  said  fund  one  per  cent,  of  the  salaries  paid  to 
teachers  who  shall  prior  to  that  date  elect  to  come  under 
the  provisions  of  this  act ;  and  one  per  cent,  of  the  salaries 
paid  to  all  teachers  appointed  after  said  date  :  Provided, 
that  no  teacher  shall  be  assessed  for  more  than  one  per 
cent,  of  twelve  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 

Third.  All  interest  or  income  derived  from  the  above 
moneys. 

SEC.  2.  The  president  or  chairman  of  the  school  com- 
mittee together  with  three  members  chosen  by  said  com- 
mittee, the  superintendent  of  schools,  the  city  treasurer  of 
the  city  of  Providence  who  shall  be  ex-officio  the  treasurer 
of  said  fund,  and  three  representatives  to  be  elected  annually 
by  those  teachers  of  the  public  schools  who  contribute  to 
the  support  of  this  fund  in  accordance  with  section  1  of  this 
act,  shall  form  a  board  of  trustees  who  shall  have  charge  of 
and  administer  said  fund,  and  said  board  of  trustees  shall 


Chap.  485.]    AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  GENERAL  LAWS.  103 

have  power  to  invest  and  re-invest  the  same  as  shall  be 
deemed  by  them  most  beneficial  to  said  fund,  and  shall 
make  payment  from  said  fund  of  annuities  granted  in  pur- 
suance of  this  act  ;  and  shall  from  time  to  time  make  and 
establish  such  rules  and  regulations  for  the  administration 
of  said  fund  as  they  shall  deem  best. 

SEC.  3.     Whenever  a  teachers'  pay  roll  shall  be  certified  to  certain  deduc- 

tions to  be 

the  city  auditor  for  payment,  it  shall  contain  a  statement  of  teachefr?Ipay- 
the  amount  to  be  deducted  from  the  salary  of  each  teacher  fSndf.°r  ' 
who  contributes  to  the  support  of  said  fund  in  accordance 
with   the  provisions  of   this   act,  which   amounts   shall   be 
added  by  said  city  treasurer  to  said  retirement  fund  ;  and  all 
amounts  received  by  said  treasurer  for  said  fund,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  provisions  of  this  act,  shall  be  subject  to  the 
order  of  said  board  of  trustees  signed  by  the  president  and 
secretary  of  said  board. 

SEC.  4.     Every  teacher  who  has  annually  contributed  to   who  may  be- 

come a  bene- 
said  fund  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act  for  at 


least  five  years,  and  shall  have  taught  in  public  schools,  if  a 
man,  not  less  than  thirty-five  years,  or  if  a  woman,  not  less 
than  thirty  years,  twenty  years  of  which  service  in  both 
cases  shall  have  been  in  the  public  schools  of  said  city  next 
preceding  the  time  of  retirement,  may  be  retired  and  shall 
have  the  right  voluntarily  to  retire  from  such  service  and 
become  a  beneficiary  under  this  act  ;  and  every  such  teacher 
so  retired  or  retiring  shall  be  entitled  to  an  annuity  for  the 
remainder  of  his  or  her  life,  to  be  paid  by  said  board  of 
trustees  out  of  said  fund,  equal  to  one  half  of  the  salary  of 
such  teacher  at  the  time  of  such  retirement,  at  the  same 
times  and  in  the  same  proportions  as  the  salaries  of  teachers 
are  paid  :  Provided,  that  the  annuity  so  paid  shall  in  no  case 
exceed  six  hundred  dollars  in  any  one  year. 

SEC.  5.     Every  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  said  city,   same  subject. 
who  shall  have  taught  continuously  therein  not  less  than 


104 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.          [Chap.  540. 

ten  years  and  for  not  less  than  five  years  annually  con- 
tributed to  said  fund  in  the  manner  provided  in  this  act  and 
has  become,  without  the  fault  of  such  teacher,  mentally  or 
physically  incapacitated  for  such  service,  may  retire  or  be 
retired  therefrom  and  become  a  beneficiary  of  said  fund  in 
the  same  manner  and  to  the  same  extent  as  provided  in  sec- 
tion 4  of  this  act :  Provided,  that  such  annuity  shall  cease 
when  such  incapacity  ceases. 

SEC.  6.  In  case  the  fund  should  be  insufficient  to  pay  the 
annuities  provided  for  in  section  4  of  this  act,  the  board  of 
trustees  shall  make  a  ratable  distribution  among  the  teachers 
who  may  be  entitled  to  annuities  under  the  provisions  of 
this  act. 

SEC.  7.  This  act  shall  take  effect  from  and  after  its  pas- 
sage. 


Passed  April 


Appropriation 
for  reference 


ratus. 


CHAPTER   540. 

AN  ACT  IN  AMENDMENT  OF  CHAPTER  53  OF  THE  GENERAL 
LAWS,  "OF  THE  APPROPRIATION  FOR  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS." 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.  Section  7  of  chapter  53  of  the  General  Laws 
is  hereby  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows  : 

"  SEC.  7.  The  sum  of  four  thousand  dollars  shall  be  annu- 
ally appropriated  for  the  purchase  of  dictionaries,  encyclo- 
pedias and  other  works  of  reference,  maps,  globes,  and  other 
apparatus,  for  the  use  of  the  public  schools  of  the  state." 

SEC.  2.  Section  8  of  chapter  53  of  the  General  Laws  is 
hereby  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows : 


Apportion- 
ment of  said 


"  SEC.  8.    Said  sum  of  four  thousand  dollars  shall  be  appor- 
tioned among  the  several  towns  and  districts  as  follows : 


Chap.  544.]    AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  GENERAL  LAWS.  105 

Every  town  or  district  desiring  to  avail  itself  of  this  appro- 
priation shall  make  application  therefor  to  the  commissioner 
of  public  schools,  with  vouchers  for  the  amount  actually 
expended.  Upon  receipt  of  said  application  and  vouchers 
the  commissioner  of  public  schools  may  draw  his  order  on 
the  general  treasurer  in  behalf  of  said  applicant,  for  half  the 
amount  of  said  vouchers,  to  an  amount  not  exceeding  twenty 
dollars  in  any  one  year  in  favor  of  any  one  district,  or  at  the 
rate  of  ten  dollars  for  each  school,  to  an  amount  not  exceed- 
ing two  hundred  dollars  in  any  one  year  for  any  town  : 
Provided,  that  the  gross  amount  in  any  one  year  shall  not 
exceed  four  thousand  dollars." 

SEC.  3.  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  and  after  its  passage, 
and  all  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  herewith  are  hereby 
repealed. 

CHAPTER   544. 

AN  ACT  TO  SECURE  A  MORE  UNIFORM  HIGH  STANDARD  IN    Passed  May  4, 
THE  PUBLIC   SCHOOLS  OF  THIS  STATE.  — 


It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  folloivs : 

SECTION  1.     In  case  any  town  shall  consolidate  three  or  Any  town  may 

consolidate 

more  ungraded  schools,  and  instead  thereof  shall  establish 
a,nd  maintain  a  graded  school  of  two  or  more  departments  s 
with  an  "  average  number  belonging  "  of  not  less  than  twenty 
pupils  for  each  department,  the  state  shall  pay  to  such  town 
one  hundred  dollars  annually  for  each  department  of  said 
schools  towards  the  support  thereof.  Two  or  more  towns 
may  unite  in  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  such 
graded  school,  and  in  such  cases  the  money  paid  by  the  state 
towards  the  support  thereof  shall  be  divided  between  the 
towns  thus  maintaining  said  school  according  to  the  number 
of  pupils  contributed  by  each  town  to  the  whole  "  average 
number  belonging." 

14 


106 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.          [Chap.  544, 


Any  district 
with  ungraded 
school  may 
consolidate 
with  district 
bavin. 
•ohoo 


State  aid 
provided  for 
high  school 


g 
ed 


ucation. 


Applications 
to  whom  made. 


Provisions 

against 

forfeiture. 


SEC.  2.  In  case  of  the  consolidation  of  any  district  main- 
taining an  ungraded  school  with  another  district  main- 
taining a  graded  school  there  shall  be  paid  by  the  state 
to  the  town  in  which  the  districts  are  situated,  on  account 
of  the  latter  district,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars  an- 
nually for  each  district  so  consolidated,  the  same  to  be  used 
for  the  support  of  the  aforesaid  graded  school,  or  for  the 
transportation  of  pupils  as  provided  for  by  section  8  of  this 
chapter. 

SEC.  3.  Any  town  maintaining  a  high  school  having  a 
course  of  study  approved  by  the  state  board  of  education, 
and  in  the  town  of  New  Shoreham  any  consolidated  district 
provided  for  in  section  1  of  Chapter  57  of  the  General  Laws, 
shall  be  entitled  to  receive  annually  from  the  state  twenty 
dollars  for  each  pupil  in  average  attendance  for  the  first 
twenty-five  pupils,  and  ten  dollars  for  each  pupil  in  average 
attendance  for  the  second  twenty -five  pupils.  Any  town  not 
maintaining  a  high  school,  which  shall  make  provision  for 
the  free  attendance  of  its  children  at  some  high  school  or 
academy  approved  by  the  state  board  of  education,  shall  be 
entitled  to  receive  aid  from  the  state  for  each  pupil  in  such 
attendance  upon  the  same  basis  and  to  the  same  extent  as  if 
it  maintained  a  high  school  by  itself. 

SEC.  4.  All  applications  for  aid  under  this  act  shall  be 
made  to  the  commissioner  of  public  schools  by  the  school 
committee  of  the  town ;  and  said  application  must  be  accom- 
panied by  the  certificate  of  the  principal  teacher*  of  the 
school  on  account  of  which  the  application  is  made,  setting 
forth  the  facts  relating  to  the  attendance  which  is  made  the 
basis  of  the  application. 

SEC.  5.  After  any  school,  such  as  is  provided  for  in  section 
1  of  this  chapter,  has  been  established  it  shall  not  forfeit  its 
claim  to  its  share  of  the  state  aid  for  a  failure  to  maintain 


the  required  "  average  number  belonging  "  unless  said 


av- 


-Chap.  544.]    AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  GENERAL  LAWS.  107 

erage  number  belonging- "  falls  below  fifteen  for  the  several 
departments. 

SEC.  6.  The  sum  of  twenty  thousand  dollars,  or  so  much  Appropriation. 
thereof  as  may  be  needed,  shall  be  annually  appropriated  for 
the  payment  of  the  several  sums  which  may  become  due  and 
payable  under  the  provisions  of  this  chapter  ;  and  the  state 
auditor  is  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to  draw  his  orders 
on  the  general  treasurer  in  favor  of  such  towns  for  such  sums 
as  shall  be  certified  to  him  by  the  commissioner  of  public 
schools  as  due  to  said  towns  under  the  provisions  of  this 
chapter. 

SEC.  7.  In  the  apportionment  of  the  annual  appropriation 
of  the  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  provided 
by  law  for  the  support  of  public  schools,  no  town  shall  for-  l 
feit  any  portion  thereof  hereafter  on  account  of  any  reduc- 
tion in  the  number  of  its  schools,  by  reason  of  the  consolida- 
tion thereof  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act, 
but  each  town  shall  continue  to  be  entitled  to  the  same 
amount  from  said  annual  appropriation  upon  the  basis  of 
the  number  of  schools  prior  to  such  consolidation.  (See 
Sec.  2,  Chap.  58.) 

SEC.  8.     The  school  committee  of  any  town  may  consoli-   school  com- 
mittee may 

date  any  schools  the  average  number  belonging  of  each  of  Xoisfwhen. 
which  is  less  than  twelve,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing 
a  graded  school ;  and  said  school  committee  shall  have  au- 
thority to  provide,  in   their   discretion,   transportation   for 
pupils  to  and  from  school. 

SEC.  9.     No  person  shall  be  employed  to  teach,  as  principal  Every  teacher 

r         must  have 

or  assistant,  in  any  school  supported  wholly  or  in  part  by   certificate. 
public  money  unless  such  person  shall   have   a  certificate 
of  qualification  issued  by,  or  under  the  authority  of,  the  state 
board  of  education.    (See  Sec.  8,  Chap.  60,  and  Sec.  1,  Chap.  61.) 


108  LAWS  PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION.          [Chap.  545, 

Examinations.        SEC.  10.     The  state  board  of  education  shall  hold,  or  cause 

when  and  by 

to  be  held,  in  such  places  in  different  parts  of  the  state,  and 
at  such  times  as  they  may  determine,  examinations  for  the 
position  of  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  this  state  ;  and 
said  board  of  education  is  hereby  authorized  to  issue  certifi- 
cates of  qualification  which  shall  be  valid  throughout  the 
state  for  the  grade  and  time  specified  therein. 


4rtmcate  t  °f  ^EC'  **  '  ®a^  board  of  education  may  at  any  time  annul 
for  cause  any  certificate  issued  by  them,  after  due  notice  to 
the  holder  thereof,  and  an  opportunity  for  a  hearing-  if  de- 
sired. 

wthout  SEC>  12<  Said  state  board  of  education  may,  in  their  dis- 
cretion,  issue  certificates  of  qualification  without  examination 
to  persons  who  have  taught  in  the  public  schools  in  this  state 
for  three  or  more  years,  upon  their  filing  with  said  board  a 
written  application  approved  by  the  school  committee  of  the 
town  where  the  applicant  shall  have  taught  the  greater 
part  of  the  three  years  next  preceding  the  date  of  the  appli- 
cation. 

SEC.  13.  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  July  first  A.  D.  1898, 
and  all  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  herewith  are 
hereby  repealed. 


CHAPTER  545. 


LAWS,  "OF  PROVISION   FOR  THE  EDUCATION  OF   DEAF 
BLIND,  AND  IMBECILE  CHILDREN." 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows  : 

SECTION  1.     Section  4  of  Chapter  85  of  the  General  Law 
is  hereby  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows  : 


Chap.  569.]     AMENDMENTS   TO   THE   GENERAL  LAWS.  109 


"SEC.  4.     All  bills  arising  under  this  chapter  shall  be  ex-  Appropriation 

for  education 

amined  and  approved  by  the  board  of   education,  and  the   of  deaf,  blind, 

and  imbecile 

state  auditor  is  hereby  authorized  to  draw  his  orders  on  the  cnildren- 
general  treasurer  for  the  payment  thereof  when  properly 
certified  by  the  secretary  of  the  board  and  approved  by  the 
governor  ;  and  a  sum  not  to  exceed  fourteen  thousand  dollars, 
or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  needed,  is  hereby  annually 
appropriated  therefor  out  of  any  money  in  the  treasury  not 
otherwise  appropriated." 

SEC.  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  and  after  its  passage, 
and  all  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  herewith  are 
hereby  repealed. 


CHAPTER  569. 

AN  ACT  TO   PROVIDE   FOR  THE   CREATION   AND  DISBURSE-    Parsed  May  6, 
MENT    OF    A    PUBLIC    SCHOOL    TEACHERS'     RETIREMENT    - 
FUND  IN  THE  CITY  OF  NEWPORT. 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows  : 

SECTION  1.     The  school  committee  of  the  city  of  Newport  school  com- 

mittee of  New- 


shall  have  power  to  establish  what  shall  be  known  as  the 
public  school  teachers'  retirement  fund,  which  fund  shall  be 
administered  by  the  board  of  trustees  hereinafter  provided  ffrement  fund. 
for.     Said  fund  shall  consist  of 

First,  All  moneys  received  from  donations,  legacies,  gifts, 
bequests,  or  otherwise,  for  or  on  account  of  said  fund,  and 
also  any  appropriation  which  the  city  council'  of  said  city 
may  see  fit  to  make  from  time  to  time  for  the  benefit  of  said 
fund,  which  appropriations  are  hereby  authorized  to  be  made 
by  said  city  council. 

Second,  On  and  after  September  1,  1898,  the  school  com- 
mittee of  said  city  shall  reserve  and  turn  over  to  said  fund 


HQ  LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.          [Chap.  569. 

one  per  cent,  of  the  salaries  paid  to  teachers  who  shall,  prior 
to  that  date,  elect  to  come  under  the  provisions  of  this  act ; 
and  one  per  cent,  of  the  salaries  paid  to  all  teachers  ap- 
appointed  after  said  date  :  Provided,  that  not  more  than  one 
per  cent,  of  twelve  hundred  dollars  per  annum  shall  be  de- 
ducted from  the  salary  of  any  one  teacher. 

Third,  All  income  or  interest  derived  from   the   above 
moneys. 

Fund  to  be  ad-       SEC.  2.     Three  members   of  the  said  school   committee, 

ministered  by 

chosen  annually  by  said  committee,  the  superintendent  of 
schools,  and  three  representatives  to  be  elected  by  those 
teachers  of  the  public  schools  who  contribute  to  the  support 
of  this  fund  in  accordance  with  section  I  of  this  act,  shall 
form  a  board  of  trustees  who  shall  have  charge  of  and  ad- 
minister said  fund,  and  said  board  of  trustees  shall  have 
power  to  invest  and  re-invest  the  same  as  shall  be  deemed 
by  them  most  beneficial  to  said  fund,  and  shall  make  pay-, 
ment  from  said  fund  of  annuities  granted  in  pursuance  of  this 
act,  and  shall  from  time  to  time  make  and  establish  such  rules 
and  regulations  for  the  administration  of  such  fund  as  they, 
shall  deem  best.  The  city  treasurer  of  said  city  shall  be  ex- 
officio  the  treasurer  of  said  fund.  Of  the  three  representatives 
to  be  elected  by  the  said  teachers  at  the  time  of  their  first 
election,  one  shall  be  chosen  for  a  term  of  one  year,  one  for 
two  years,  and  one  for  three  years,  and  thereafter  one  such 
representative  shall  be  chosen  each  year  to  serve  for  the 
term  of  three  years. 

Sorn8aiobeeduc"       SEC.  3.     Whenever  a  teachers'  pay-roll  shall  be  certified 
acher™™ay-    to  the  city  auditor  of  said  city  for  payment,  it  shall  contain 

roll  for  said 

a  statement  of  the  amount  to  be  deducted  from  the  salary  of 
each  teacher  who  contributes  to  the  support  of  said  fund  in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act,  which  amounts 
shall  be  added  by  said  city  treasurer  to  said  retirement 


Chap.  569.]    AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  GENERAL  LAWS.  Ill 

fund  ;  and  all  amounts  received  by  said  treasurer  for  said 
fund,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act,  shall  be 
subject  to  the  order  of  said  board  of  trustees,  signed  by  the 
president  and  secretary  of  said  board. 

SEC.  4.  Every  teacher  who  has  annually  contributed  to  said  J^'a'beriefi- 
fund  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act  for  at  least  fin?.  °f 
five  years,  and  shall  have  taught  in  public  schools  for  not 
less  than  thirty  years,  fifteen  years  of  which  service  shall 
have  been  in  the  public  schools  of  said  city,  may  be  retired, 
and  shall  have  the  right  voluntarily  to  retire  from  such  ser- 
vice and  become  a  beneficiary  under  this  act ;  and  every 
such  teacher  so  retired  or  retiring  shall  be  entitled  to  an 
annuity  equal  to  one  half,  the  amount  of  salary  received  at 
the  time  of  retirement,  for  the  remainder  of  his  or  her  life, 
to  be  paid  by  said  board  of  trustees  at  the  same  time  and  iii 
the  same  proportion  as  the  salaries  of  public  school  teachers 
in  said  city  are  paid  :  Provided I,  that  no  annuity  shall  be 
paid  till  such  retiring  member  shall  have  contributed  to  the 
fund  a  sum  equal  to  all  the  assessments  for  thirty  years  had  he 
been  assessed  hereunder  upon  his  salary  during  said  term, 
except  under  the  conditions  prescribed  in  section  5,  and 
provided  also,  that  the  annuity  so  paid  shall  in  no  case  ex- 
ceed six  hundred  dollars  in  any  one  year. 

SEC.  5.  Every  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  said  city,  same  subject, 
who  shall  have  taught  continuously  therein  not  less  than 
ten  years,  and  for  not  less  than  five  years  annually  contrib- 
uted to  said  fund  in  the  manner  provided  in  this  act,  and 
has  become,  without  the  fault  of  such  teacher,  mentally  or 
physically  incapacitated  for  such  service,  may  retire  or  be 
retired  therefrom,  and  become  a  beneficiary  of  said  fund  in 
the  same  manner  and  to  the  same  extent  as  provided  in  sec- 
tion 4  of  this  act ;  except  that  the  teacher  so  retired  may  at 
the  discretion  of  the  board  be  exempted  from  the  obligation 
to  make  good  thirty  full  assessments  as  above,  and  such  in- 


contributors 

to  fund,  if  dis- 

missed,  to  re- 

ceive  what  pro- 
amount  by 

™pald 


proceedings  in 

case  fund  is  in- 

sufficient  to 

pay  annuities. 


LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION.          [Chap.  587. 

capacity  shall  be  determined  by  the  attending  physician  and 
one  sent  by  the  board  of  trustees,  and  the  annuity  shall  cease 
when  the  incapacity  ceases. 

SEC.  6.     Any  teacher  who  shall  be  dismissed  before  having- 

..       ,  ,  .    . 

served  ten  years  shall  receive  back  all  the  money  which  such 
teacher  may  have  contributed  to  the  fund  herein  provided 
for  ;  but  if  dismissed  after  ten  years  and  before  having  served 
twenty  years,  shall  receive  only  two  thirds  of  the  amount  so 
contributed  ;  and  after  twenty  years  only  one  third  of  the 
amount  so  contributed. 

SEC.  7.     In  case  said  fund  should  be  insufficient  to  pay  the 

. 

annuities  provided  for  in  sections  4  and  5  of  this  act,  the 
board  of  trustees  shall  make  a  ratable  distribution  thereof 
among  the  teachers  who  may  be  entitled  to  annuities  under 
the  provisions  of  this  act. 

SEC.  8.    This  act  shall  take  effect  from  and  after  its  passage. 


CHAPTER  587. 

Passed  June  15,  AN  ACT  IN  AMENDMENT  OF  CHAPTER  64  OF  THE  GENERAL 
LAWS,  ENTITLED  "OF  TRUANT  CHILDREN  AND  OF  THE 
ATTENDANCE  OF  CHILDREN  IN  THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS." 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows  : 


ancehofaSd" 


Sence. 


SECTION  1.  The  school  committee  of  the  city  of  Providence 
snaU  divide  the  school  year  into  two  school  terms  of  approxi- 
mately  equal  length  ;  and  every  person  having  under  his 
control  a  child  between  the  ages  of  seven  and  fifteen  years 
residing  in  said  city  shall  cause  such  child  to  regularly 
attend  some  public  day  school  in  said  city  for  at  least  the 
whole  of  one  of  such  terms  in  each  year,  subject  to  the  same 
penalty  and  the  same  provisos  as  are  specified  in  section  1  of 
Chapter  64  of  the  General  Laws  ;  and,  in  said  city,  attend- 


Chap.  593.]    AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  GENERAL  LAWS.  113 

ance  as  aforesaid  shall  be  required  under  all  the  provisions 
of  Chapter  64  of  the  General  Laws  in  the  place  and  stead  of 
the  attendance  for  eighty  full  school  days  specified  in  said 
section  1  of  said  chapter. 

SEC.  2.  All  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  here- 
with are  hereby  repealed,  and  this  act  shall  take  effect  from 
and  after  its  passage. 


CHAPTER   593. 

AN  ACT  TO  AUTHORIZE  AND  EMPOWER  THE   SCHOOL  COM-   Passed  June  2, 
MITTEE    OF    THE    CITY    OF    PROVIDENCE    TO    CONTRACT 
WITH  THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  OF  THE  RHODE  ISLAND 
NORMAL  SCHOOL. 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows  : 

SECTION  1.     The  school  committee  of  the  city  of  Providence  Provision  for 

the  education 


is  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to  contract  from  time 

to  time  with  the  board   of  trustees   of  the  Rhode  .  Island  P0rhoouSTne'  m 

normal  school  for  the  education  of  children  residing  in  the  school  buiid- 

ing. 

city  of  Providence,  in  schools  maintained  in  the  Rhode 
Island  normal  school  building  and  controlled  by  said  board 
of  trustees,  upon  such  terms  and  conditions  as  may  be  mutu- 
ally agreed  upon  by  said  school  committee  and  said  board  of 
trustees. 

SEC.  2.    All  expenditures  of  money  by  said  school  com-  Expense  of 

said  education 

mittee  made  necessary  by  any  contract  made  in  pursuance 


of  the  authority  hereby  granted  shall  be  made  out  of  the  paid< 
appropriations  made  by  the  city  council  of  the  city  of  Provi- 
dence for  the  support  of  public  schools. 

SEC.  3.  This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage,  and 
all  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  herewith  are  hereby 
repealed. 

15 


114 


LAWS   PERTAINING  TO  .EDUCATION.          [Chap.  620. 


CHAPTER  620. 

Passed  March     AN  ACT  IN  AMENDMENT  OF  SECTION  6,  CHAPTER  61  OF  THE 

GENERAL  LAWS,  "OF  TEACHERS." 

It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  as  follows: 

SECTION  1.     Section  6,  Chapter  61  of  the  General  Laws, 
"  Of  teachers,"  is  hereby  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows  : 


Members  of 
school  com- 
mittee and 
trustees  of 
school  districts 
are  ineligible 
to  teach  in  pub- 
lic schools. 


"  SEC.  6.  No  member  of  the  school  committee  of  any  town, 
or  trustee  of  any  school  district,  shall,  so  long  as  he  continues 
in  said  office  of  member  of  the  school  committee  or  trustee 
of  school  district,  be  eligible  or  employed  to  teach  as  prin- 
cipal or  assistant  in  any  school  supported  entirely  or  in  part 
by  the  public  money,  within  the  town  where  said  member  of 
the  school  committee  or  trustee  resides." 

SEC.  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  from  and  after  its  passage, 
and  all  acts  or  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  herewith  are  hereby 
repealed. 


INDEX. 


Abatement  of  taxes,  when  and  how  made,  50. 
Absentees,  provisions  and  arrangements  for,  69. 
Account  of  school  commissioner  to  State  auditor,  65. 

of  school  moneys,  penalty  for  neglect  to  deliver  to  successor,  72. 
Acts  of  incorporation,  public  acts,  14. 
Additions  to  district,  liable  how  far,  48. 
Admission  to  K.  I.  School  for  Deaf,  by  trustees,  83. 
Advanced  school  provided  for,  46. 
Advertisement  of  sale  of  property  for  taxes,  24,  26. 
Agreement  to  submit  dispute  to  commissioner,  when,  61. 
Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts,  R.  I.  College  of,  74-78. 
Aid,  collector  of  taxes  may  require,  28. 
Alcohol,  instruction  as  to  effect  of,  upon  human  system,  55. 
Aldermen,  Board  of,  words  "town  council"  construed  to  include,  13. 

penalty  for  neglect  of,  to  appoint  truant  officer,  70. 

to  appoint  special  constables  under  truant  law,  66. 
Amount  of  tax  to  be  approved  by  school  committee,  43. 
Annual  meeting  of  districts,  notice  of,  44. 

when  to  be  held,  44. 
Apparatus,  appropriation  for,  36,  104. 

applications  therefor  to  be  recorded,  37. 

how  apportioned,  37,  105. 
Appeals  from  condemnation  proceedings,  54. 

to  school  commissioner,  61. 
Apportionment  of  property  where  district  is  divided,  48. 

of  public  money  to  districts,  56. 
when  to  be  made,  56. 

of  State  appropriation  for  libraries,  32. 

for  public  schools,  36. 
Appraisal  of  land  for  schoolhouse,  how  made,  54. 


116  LAWS  PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION. 

Appropriation,  State,  for  apparatus  and  reference  books,  36,  104. 
for  evening  schools,  37. 
for  graded  schools,  105,  107. 
for  high  schools,  106,  107. 
for  lectures  and  teachers'  institutes,  64. 
for  libraries,  32. 
for  public  schools,  35. 

for  travelling  expenses  of  pupils  of  Normal  school,  64,  100. 
to  School  of  Design,  78. 
town,  for  libraries,  17,  19. 

for  schools,  17,  36. 
Arbor  Day,  programme  for,  35. 

to  be  a  legal  holiday,  92,  100. 
Assessing  and  collecting  poll  taxes,  22. 
Assessment  of  tax,  errors  in,  how  corrected,  50. 
notice  of,  49. 

when  ordered  by  school  commissioner,  49. 
Assessors  of  taxes,  compensation  of,  29. 
Associate  districts,  how  formed,  46. 
organization  of,  46. 
powers  of,  46. 

public  money  how  paid  to,  47. 

Attendance  at  school  of  non-residents,  how  reckoned,  52. 
required  of  what  children,  65,  112. 
rules  for,  made  by  school  committee,  55. 
Auctioneers,  duties  paid  by,  added  to  school  fund,  15. 

Beneficiaries  at  School  of  Design,  78. 

blind,  deaf,  and  imbecile,  81,  98. 
bills  for,  how  paid,  82,  108. 

Bequests  and  legacies  to  libraries,  how  treated,  20. 
Blackboards,  school  districts  may  supply,  43. 
Blanks  and  registers  to  be  provided,  33. 

for  school  census,  41. 

for  report  of  school  committee,  58. 
Blind,  imbecile,  and  deaf  children,  education  of,  81,  98. 
Board  of  Education,  State,  31. 

constitution  of,  31. 

duties  of,  31,  32,  37,  63,  78,  107,  108. 

how  divided,  31. 


INDEX.  117 

• 
Board  of  Education,  State,  how  elected,  31. 

may  appoint  beneficiaries,  78. 

meetings  of,  32. 

may  annul  teachers'  certificates,  108. 

officers  of,  32. 

terms  of  office  of,  31. 

to  appropriate  money  and  make  rules  for  libraries,  32. 

to  hold  examinations,  for  teachers,  108. 

to  issue  teachers'  certificates,  107,  108. 

to  make  report  to  general  assembly  annually,  34. 

to  receive  reports,  33,  78,  88. 

to  supervise  education  of  deaf,  blind,  and  imbecile  children,  81. 

travelling  expenses  of,  how  paid,  34. 
Boundaries  of  school  districts,  how  changed,  53. 

to  be  recorded  by  town  clerk,  41. 
Bribery  of  school  officers  prohibited,  and  penalty  for,  73. 

Census  of  children  of  school  age,  41. 

returns  of,  certified  to  school  commissioner,  42. 

deposited  with  school  committee,  42. 
Certificates  of  attendance  at  school,  kept  by  employer,  68. 
of  incorporation,  confer  what  powers,  94. 
form  of,  93. 

issued  by  secretary  of  state,  93. 
of  qualification  of  school  teachers,  valid  how  long,  59. 

when  needed,  59,  107. 
of  vaccination,  required  when,  74. 
Certificate  voters,  7. 

Change  in  text-books  by  committee,  how  made,  58. 
Children,  employment  of,  prohibited  when,  67,  68,  79. 
See  State  Home  and  School  for  Children. 
Christmas  Day,  to  be  a  legal  holiday,  92,  100. 
City,  word  "town"  construed  to  include,  13. 

clerk,  words  "town  clerk"  construed  to  include,  13. 
Classification  of  voters,  6. 
Clerk,  commissioner  may  employ,  34. 
of  school  committee,  53. 
of  school  district,  election,  powers,  duties,  43-45,  63. 

to  record  votes,  when,  45. 
See  Town  Clerk. 


118  LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION. 

Clothing  for  blind,  de&f,  and  imbecile  children,  81. 
Collection  of  taxes,  23. 

from  persons  taxed  being  out  of  State,  27. 
of  district  taxes,  43. 
Collectors  of  taxes,  43. 

compensation  of,  30. 
may  adjourn  sale,  27. 
may  advertise  and  sell  real  estate,  24. 
may  distrain,  when,  26. 
may  follow  persons  or  property,  27. 
may  recover  tax,  how,  27. 
may  remove  personal  property,  27. 
may  require  aid,  28. 
to  give  bond,  when,  43,  62. 
Commissioner  of  public  schools,  34. 

duties  of,  34,  35r  36,  37,  41,  58,  61,  64,  65,  70,  104,  105. 
election  of,  31. 
may  employ  clerk,  34. 

may  visit  schools  receiving  aid  from  State,  72. 
may  withhold  school  money  from  town,  when,  41. 
powers  of,  in  case  of  tax  by  joint  or  associated  districts,  50. 
to  administer  oaths,  11. 
to  correct  errors  in  assessing  tax,  50. 
to  order  abatement  of  tax,  50. 
to  remit  fines,  63. 

pro  tempore,  may  be  appointed  by  the  governor,  34. 
school  committee  to  prescribe  rules  and  studies  under  direction  of,  55 
term  of  office  of,  34. 

to  apportion  appropriation  for  public  schools,  36. 
to  approve  plans  for  schoolhouses,  when,  43. 

tax,  repairs,  etc.,  of  joint  district,  when,  50. 
to  be  secretary  of  Board  of  Education,  32. 

trustee  of  formal  School,  63. 
to  furnish  blanks,  41,  58. 
to  draw  appropriation  for  apparatus,  37. 
for  free  libraries,  33. 
for  public  schools,  36. 

to  hear  appeals  and  decide  on  matters  of  dispute,  when,  61. 
to  hold  teacher's  institutes,  64. 
to  notify  authorities  of  neglect  under  truant  law,  70. 


INDEX.  119 

Commissioner  of  public  schools,  to  order  assessment  and  collection  -of 
district  tax,  when,  49,  50. 

to  prepare  programme  for  Arbor  Day,  35. 

to  receive  application  for  aid  for  high  and  consolidated  schools,  106. 

to  receive  reports,  41,  42,  58. 

to  report  annually  to  Board  of  Education,  35. 

to  secure  uniformity  of  text-books,  35. 

to  submit  statement  to  justice  of  supreme  court,  when,  61. 

to  visit  schools,  34. 
Committee.     See  School  Committee. 
Compensation  of  assessors,  29. 

of  superintendent  of  schools,  40. 

of  trustees,  52. 

Complainant  in  case  of  truancy,  <>7. 
Computation  of  time,  13. 

Condemnation  of  land  for  schoolhouses,  how  made,  54. 
Condition  of  aid  to  free  public  libraries,  32. 

of  employment  of  children,  67. 

of  receiving  teachers'  money,  36. 

Consent  of  school  committee  for  district  meeting,  when  required,  45. 
Consolidated  district  entitled  to  what  moneys,  47. 

how  formed,  47. 

organization  of,  47. 
Consolidation  of  ungraded  schools,  105. 

by  school  committee,  when,  107. 
Constitution  of  the  State,  extracts  from,  3. 

declaration  of  rights  in,  3. 

educational  provisions  of,  5. 

objects  of  government  under,  4.. 

qualifications  for  office  under,  4. 

religious  freedom  secured  by,  4. 
Construction  of  statutes,  12. 

of  word  "gender,"  12. 

"land"  or  "lands,"  13. 
"number,"  12. 
"oath,"  13. 
"person,"  12. 
'  'seal,"  14. 
"town,"  13, 

of  words  giving  joint  authority,  12. 


120  LAWS  PERTAINING  TO  EDUCATION. 

Construction  of  statutes. 

of  words  "insane  person,"  13. 

"justice  of  peace,"  13. 

"month"  and  "year,"  13. 

"town  clerk,"  13. 

"town  council,"  13. 

"town  sergeant,"  13. 

"town  treasurer,"  13. 

"United  States,"  13. 

"ward  clerk,"  13. 
Corporations,  literary  and  scientific,  how  formed,  93. 

powers  of,  94. 

Costs  not  taxed  to  school  officers,  when,  62. 
Court  may  discharge  convicted  truants,  when,  69. 

Deaf,  blind,  and  imbecile,  period  of  education  of,  may  be  extended, 

provision  for  education  of,  81,  82,  98,  108. 
Debts  of  districts,  how  treated,  39. 
Deduction  of  taxes  allowed  when,  29. 
Difference  in  value,  how  adjusted,  39. 
Diplomas,  Normal  School,  condition  for  receiving,  64. 
Discontinued  districts,  powers  and  duties  of,  39, 
Dismissal  of  teacher,  when  and  how,  55,  59. 
Dispute  may  be  submitted  to  commissioner,  when,  61. 
Districts  may  be  abolished  by  town,  38. 
may  be  formed,  38. 

See  School  District. 

District  boundaries  to  be  kept  by  town  clerk,  41. 
meetings,  44. 

notice  of,  by  whom  given,  44. 

how  given,  45. 
where  to  be  held,  45. 
officers  hold  how  long,  72. 
must  be  engaged,  71. 
penalty  for  neglect  of  duty  by,  72. 
property,  how  to  be  appraised,  39. 
taxes,  how  collected,  43. 
how  levied,  49, 

when  assessors  to  be  called  on  to  assess,  49. 
Disturbance  of  school  or  any  public  meeting,  95. 


INDEX.  121 

Division  of  district,  how  treated,  48. 

Documents,  penalty  for  unlawful  refusal  to  deliver  official,  16. 

Dogs,  88. 

to  be  licensed,  89. 
Donations  for  support  of  public  schools,  5. 

Education  of  deaf,  blind,  and  imbecile,  81,  98. 

provisions  of  constitution  for,  5. 
Election  Day,  national,  to  be  legal  holiday,  92,  100. 

State,  to  be  legal  holiday,  92,  100. 
Election  of  school  committee,  39. 

Electors,  rights  and  qualifications  of,  6-10.     See»  Voters. 
Employer  to  keep  certificate  of  attendance  at  school,  68. 

register  of  all  under  16,  79. 

Employment  of  children  forbidden,  when,  67,  79. 
Engagement  of  district  officers,  71. 
evidence  of,  71. 

to  office,  form  of,  10 
Entry  by  collector  unnecessary,  25. 
Errors  in  tax  to  be  corrected,  how,  50. 
Evening  school  appropriation,  37. 
Evidence  of  engagement  to  office,  71. 

that  district  meeting  has  been  duly  notified,  63. 
Examination  of  pupils  for  Normal  School,  64. 

of  teachers,  55,  59,  64,  108. 

Exclusion  from  school  must  be  by  general  rule,  71. 
Execution  for  tax  sale,  how  issued,  27. 
Exemption  from  liability  to  send  child  to  school,  66. 

from  taxation,  20,  21. 
Experiment  station  established,  75. 
Expenses  of  State  board  of  education,  34. 

Factory  and  manufacturing  establishments  defined,  79. 
inspectors,  79. 

duties  of,  80.  * 

how  appointed,  80. 

Failure  to  comply  with  truant  law  forfeits  school  money,  70. 
Fees  allowed  truant  officer,  when,  67. 

for  books  in  free  public  library  not  to  be  exacted,  19. 
not  to  be  offered  to  school  officers,  73. 

16 


122  LAWS  PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION. 

Fees  not  to  be  received  by  school  officers,  73. 

of  collector  of  taxes,  30. 
Fines  for  disturbing  meetings  or  schools,  95. 

for  employment  of  children  in  factories,  68,  69. 

for  injury  to  property  of  libraries,  95. 

for  neglect  of  duty,  72. 

in  school  matters,  commissioner  may  remit,  63. 

under  truant  law,  how  used,  70. 
Flags,  foreign,  not  to  be  put  up  on  schoolhouses,  96. 
Foreigners  to  file  proof  of  citizenship,  8. 
Forfeited  or  unexpended  money,  how  treated,  58. 
Forfeiture  of  teachers'  money,  36. 
Formation  of  district,  restrictions  on,  54. 
Forms  of  engagement  to  office,  10. 
Fourth  of  July,  to  be  legal  holiday,  92,  100. 
Free  public  libraries,  aid  for,  32. 

how  established,  17,  18,  19. 

how  maintained,  17,  19. 

payments  to,  how  made,  33. 

to  comply  with  rules  of  board  of  education,  32. 
Free  textbooks  to  be  supplied  by  school  committee,  58. 
Fund,  permanent.    See  Permanent  School  Fund. 

for  free  public  libraries  may  be  accepted  by  town  or  city  council,  19. 

Gender,  how  construed,  12. 
General  powers  of  school  districts,  42. 
provisions  concerning  taxes,  29. 

relating  to  public  schools,  71. 
General  tax  laws  applicable  to  school  districts,  30. 
General  Treasurer  to  have  custody  of  school  fund,  14. 
Gift  to  free  public  library,  how  receipted  for,  20. 
Governor  may  administer  oaths  anywhere  in  State,  11. 

member  and  president  of  State  board  of  education,  31,  32. 
to  advise  as  to  investment  of  permanent  school  fund,  14. 
to  appoint  board  of  control  for  State  Home  and  School,  85. 
commissioner  of  public  schools  pro  tempore,  34. 
factory  inspectors,  and  may  remove  them,  80. 
State  beneficiaries,  blind,  deaf,  etc.,  81,  98. 
trustees  of  E.  I.  Institute  for  the  Deaf,  82. 


INDEX.  123 

High  Schools,  State  aid  for,  106. 
Holidays,  legal,  what  are,  92. 

as  amended,  100. 

Hygiene,  instruction  in,  to  be  provided,  55. 
Idiot,  provisions  for  education  of,  81,  98. 
Imbecile,  deaf,  and  blind  children,  81,  98. 

Improper  children  at  State  Home  and  School  may  be  returned,  86. 
Income  of  school  fund,  how  to  be  used,  15. 
Indebtedness  of  town,  limit  of,  18. 
Incorporation,  92. 

Incorrigible  pupils  may  be  suspended,  56. 
Insane  person,  how  construed,  13. 
Institutes  and  lectures  for  teachers  provided  for,  64. 
Insurance  of  schoolhouses,  43. 

Joint  authority,  how  exercised,  12. 

may  be  exercised  by  whom,  13. 
Joint  school  districts,  46. 

how  formed,  47. 

organization  of,  47. 

powers  of,  47. 

Joint  district  tax,  how  approved,  50. 
Joint  or  associate  tax,  provisions  concerning,  50. 
Judgment  against  a  district,  how  satisfied,  62. 
Jurisdiction,  justice  courts  to  have,  in  truant  cases,  70. 

over  State  Home  and  School  cases,  with  probate  court,  87. 
Justice  of  peace,  how  construed,  13. 

of  supreme  court,  when  may  be  appealed  to,  61. 

Labor  Day,  to  be  legal  holiday,  92,  100. 
Land,  or  lands,  how  construed,  13. 

how  condemned  for  school  purposes,  54. 
Lectures  on  subjects  of  education,  how  provided,  64. 
Legacy  to  free  public  library,  how  discharged,  20. 
Legal  proceedings  relating  to  public  schools,  60. 
Letters,  retiring  officer  to  deliver  official,  to  whom,  15. 
Levy  of  district  taxes,  48. 
Libraries,  free  public,  establishment  and  control  of,  by  towns,  18. 

how  aided,  32. 

how  incorporated  under  general  law,  93,  94. 


124  LAWS  PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION. 

Libraries,  free  public,  malicious  mischief  to,  95. 
neglect  to  return  books  to,  95. 
powers  of  town  to  appropriate  money  for,  17,  19. 
to  report  to  board  of  education,  32. 
trustees  of,  election  and  duties,  19. 
school,  powers  of  town  to  vote  money  for,  17. 

school  districts  may  maintain,  43. 
Lieutenant-Governor,  ex-officio  member  of  State  board 

of  education,  31. 
Limitations  of  town  indebtedness,  18. 

of  town  taxes,  18. 

Literary  associations,  how  organized  as  corporations,  93,  94. 
Location  of  K.  I.  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts,  75, 
of  schoolhouses,  54. 

Malicious  mischief  to  libraries,  95. 

Hanufacturing  establishments,  employment  of  minors  in,  67-09,  79. 

Maps  and  other  school  apparatus,  provision  for,  36,  104. 

school  district  may  supply,  43. 
Masculine  gender  includes  feminine,  12. 
Meetings,  district.     See  School  District. 

of  school  committee,  53. 
Memorial  Day,  to  be  legal  holiday,  92,  100. 
Mercantile  establishments,  employment  of  minors  in,  67,  79. 
Mileage  for  Xormal  pupils,  provision  for,  64,  100. 
Minimum  apportionment  of  public  money,  56. 
Minors,  convicted  under  truant  law,  commitment  of,  69. 

employment  of,  prohibited  when,  67-69,  79. 

to  attend  school,  65. 
Miscellaneous  corporations,  as  libraries,  how  formed,  93. 

limited  as  to  property,  94. 

may  amend  agreement,  94. 
Money  for  schools,  distributed  how  and  when,  56,  57. 

statements  of,  to  be  made  by  town  treasurer,  41. 
to  be  received  and  paid  out  by  town  treasurer,  40. 
unexpended  or  forfeited,  how  treated,  58. 

tuition,  used  how,  £2. 
Month  and  year,  how  construed,  13. 
Moral  instruction  must  be  given,  60. 


INDEX.  125 

Neglect  of  duties  by  officers,  29,  72. 
to  return  books  to  libraries,  95. 
to  send  children  to  school,  to  be  inquired  into,  67. 
Newport,  teachers'  retirement  fund  in,  109. 
No  person  to  be  excluded  from  school  save  by  general  rule,  71. 
Normal  School,  how  managed,  63. 

graduates  from,  entitled  to  diploma,  64. 

may  give  teachers'  certificate,  64. 

qualifications  for  free  tuition  in,  64. 

to  be  open  to  children  of  deceased  soldiers  and  sailors,  73. 

travelling  expenses  of  pupils  in,  64,  100. 

trustees  of,  how  constituted,  63. 

to  prescribe  examination  of  applicants  for  admission,  64. 
Notice  of  assessment,  when  given  by  town  assessor,  49. 
of  district  meetings,  by  whom  given,  44. 

how  given,  45. 
of  tax  sale,  how  given,  24. 
to  non-residents,  25. 
to  parties  interested,  24. 
to  residents,  24. 
of  personal  property,  26. 

Number,  singular  and  plural,  how  construed,  12. 
Nuisances  prohibited  near  schoolhouse,  72. 


Oath,  how  construed,  13. 

by  whom  administered,  10. 

who  may  administer  in  counties  and  towns,  11. 
in  matters  of  their  offices,  11. 
throughout  the  State,  11. 

of  office  and  how  administered,  10. 

of  school  district  officers,  evidence  of,  71. 

except  moderator,  71. 
Offences,  against  private  property,  95. 

against  public  peace,  95. 

against  public  policy,  96. 
Officers,  joint  authority  to  three  or  more,  how  construed,  12. 

liability  of,  for  neglect  of  duty,  29,  72. 

offering  of  fees  to,  forbidden,  73. 

of  public  schools,  forbidden  to  receive  fees,  etc.,  73. 


126  LAWS   PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION. 

Officers  of  school  district,  43. 
powers  of,  43. 

of  schools  receiving  State  aid  to  report  annually,  33. 

to  surrender  official  records,  when  and  to  whom,  15. 
Orders  on  school  fund  drawn  when,  57. 

payable  to  whom,  57. 
Ordinances  to  be  made  for  attendance  of  children  in  schools,  69. 

Parents  to  cause  child  to  attend  school,  65,  112. 

penalty  on,  for  illegal  employment  of  children,  68. 
Payment  of  taxes,  proof  of,  9. 
Payments  to  free  public  libraries,  how  made,  33. 
Penalty  for  disturbing  meetings  or  schools,  95. 
for  employing  child  contrary  to  law,  68. 

who  cannot  write,  69. 
for  failure  to  deliver  official  records,  16. 
to  send  children  to  school,  65,  112. 
for  making  false  registry,  8. 

false  returns  or  other  neglect  of  duty,  72. 
for  malicious  mischief  to  property  of  libraries,  95. 
for  misappropriating  moneys,  72. 
for  non-payment  of  taxes,  29. 
for  non-remittance  of  returns,  41,  42,  58. 
for  refusal  to  give  information,  in  school  census,  42. 

to  permit  schools  to  be  visited  by  school  committee,  &c.,  72. 
for  truancy,  69. 
general,  74. 

Penalties,  etc.,  school  commissioner  may  remit  what,  63. 
Permanent  school  fund,  5,  14. 
additions  to,  15. 
custodian  of,  14. 
investments  for,  14,  15. 
not  to  be  diverted  by  General  Assembly,  5. 
town  share  of  school  money,  when  to  be  added  to,  15,  36. 
uses  of  income  of,  15. 
Person,  how  to  be  construed,  12. 
Personal  property  and  registry  voters,  6. 
Personal  property  voters  not  to  register  annually,  9. 
»hysiology  and  hygiene,  instruction  in,  to  be  given,  55. 
Place  of  district  meetings,  45. 


INDEX.  127 

Places  of  employment  to  be  visited  by  factory  inspectors,  80. 

by  truant  officers,  08. 

Plans  for  building  or  repairs  to  be  approved,  43. 
Plural  number  includes  singular,  12. 
Poll  taxes,  collection  of,  22. 

for  support  of  public  schools,  23. 

method  of  assessing,  22. 

when  and  on  whom  assessed,  22. 
Powers  and  duties  of  district  officers,  43. 

of  school  committees,  53. 

of  towns  and  town  officers,  38. 

of,  and  suits  by  and  against,  towns,  16. 

of  associate  districts,  46. 

of  consolidated  districts,  47,  48. 

of  joint  district,  47. 

of  school  districts,  42. 
Preference  of  taxes  in  insolvents,  29. 
Printing  report,  money  reserved  for,  58. 
Private  schools,  may  be  approved  when,  66. 

to  be  registered  and  report,  33. 

Proceedings  in  case  of  children  in  State  almshouse,  87. 
Proceeds  of  dog  licenses  to  be  used  for  schools,  90,  91. 
Process  against  district,  how  served,  63. 

under  truant  law,  by  whom  served,  67. 
Proof  of  payment  of  taxes,  9. 
Property  exempt  from  distraint,  26. 

liable  to,  and  exempt  from,  taxation,  20. 

Providence,  school  committee  of,  may  make  contract  with  trustees  K.  I. 
Xormal  School,  113. 

schools  of,  how  to  be  governed,  73,  101. 
attendance  of  children  in,  112. 

teachers,  retirement  fund  in,  102. 

Title  IX.  how  for  applicable  to,  73,  101. 
Public  libraries.     See  Libraries. 
Public  money  apportioned  to  joint  districts,  48. 

how  paid  to  associate  district,  47. 
Public  records,  15. 
Public  schools.    See  Schools. 
Pupils.    See  Scholars. 


128  LAWS   PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION. 

Qualifications  and  rights  of  voters,  0. 

for  free  tuition  in  Normal  School,  64. 
for  office,  4. 

for  voting  in  district  meeting,  45. 
required  of  teachers,  59,  107. 

Real  estate,  deed  of,  for  taxes,  what  title  vested  in  purchaser  by,  i>r>. 

how  advertised  and  sold  for  taxes,  24. 

how  condemned  for  school  purposes,  54. 

if  aliened,  not  to  be  sold  for  tax,  in  what  case,  24. 

may  be  sold  for  taxes,  24. 

taxes  against  owner  of,  a  lien  on,  23. 
how  long,  24. 

voters,  7 

Record  of  district  clerk  prima  facie  evidence,  63. 
Record  vote,  when  to  be  taken,  45. 
Redemption  by  owner  of  land  sold  for  taxes,  25. 
Reference  books,  appropriation  for,  36,  104. 
Refusal  to  allow  visitation  forfeits  State  aid,  72. 
Register  of  scholars  to  be  kept  by  teachers,  60. 

to  be  deposited  where,  57. 
Registering  and  listing  of  voters,  8. 
Registry  and  personal  property  voters,  6. 
Registry  list  to  be  furnished  by  town  clerk,  9. 
Regular  appropriations  for  support  of  schools,  35. 

Religious  purposes,  buildings  and  land  held  for,  exempt  from  taxation,  20. 
Religious  societies,  what  property  of,  exempt  from  taxation,  20. 
Remission  of  fines  and  forfeitures,  how  done,  63. 
Repeal  of  statutes,  effect  of,  14. 
Report  of  Board  of  Control  of  State  Home  and  School,  annual,  88. 

of  board  of  education,  annual,  34. 

of  commissioner  of  public  schools,  35. 

of  school  committee  to  commissioner,  58. 
to  town  meeting,  58. 

of  trustees  of  R.  I.  Institute  for  the  Deaf,  annual,  84. 

to  board  of  education,  of  schools  aided  by  State,  3:}. 
Retirement  funds  for  teachers,  102,  109. 

beneficiaries  of,  who  may  be,  103,  111. 

payments  to,  when  and  how  made,  103,  104,  ill,  112. 

sources  of,  102,  109. 


INDEX.  129 

Retirement  funds  for  teachers,  treasurer  of,  102,  110. 

trustees  of,  103,  110. 

Returns  made  to  school  committee  by  trustee,  51. 
Returns  of  school  census,  where  deposited,  etc.,  42. 
Rhode  Island  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts,  74. 

a  body  corporate,  75. 

board  of  managers  of,  adopt  course  of  study,  77. 
duty  of,  76. 
employ  faculty,  77. 
officers  of,  77. 

location  of,  75. 

object  of,  75. 

terms  of  office  of  members  of  corporation,  76. 

to  have  moneys  received  from  United  States,  75. 

treasurer  of,  to  give  bond,  77. 

to  make  annual  report  to  general  assembly,  77. 

vacancies  in  corporation,  how  filled,  76. 
Rhode  Island  Institute  for  the  Deaf,  82. 

management  of,  s:j. 

may  issue  diplomas,  (.)i». 

oi>ject  of,  83. 

who  may  attend,  us. 

who  may  be  admitted  to,  s:j. 

who  must  attend,  !)!). 
Rhode  Island  School  of  Design,  78. 

board  of  education,  how  appoint  beneficiaries  at,  79. 
how  pay  tuition  fees,  79. 
to  elect  two  directors  of,  78. 

State  beneficiaries  at,  78. 

to  make  annual  report,  2S. 
Rights  and  qualifications  of  voters,  6. 
Rules  and  regulations,  for  appeals,  61. 

for  libraries,  19,  32. 

to  be  made  by  committee,  55. 

Sailors,  children  of  dead  or  invalided,  schools  free  to,  73. 

Scholars  authorized  to  attend  in  adjoining  town  or  district,  when,  55. 

if  less  than  five,  school  may  be  suspended,  57. 

in  normal  school,  privileges  of,  64. 

may  be  suspended,  when,  5<». 


130  LAWS  PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION. 

Scholars  not  to  attend  school  unless  vaccinated,  74. 

register  of,  to  be  kept  by  teacher,  60. 

school  committee  to  make  rules  for  classification  of,  55. 

text-books  and  supplies  to  be  loaned  to,  58. 

to  be  taught  principles  of  morality  and  virtue,  60. 

transportation  of,  106. 

without  town,  admitted  by  trustee,  when,  52. 
Schoolbooks.    See  Text-Books. 
School  census,  returns  of,  made  to  whom,  42. 

taken  when,  41. 

School  Commissioner.     See  Commissioner  of  Public  Schools. 
School  Committee,  alter  district  boundaries,  when,  53. 

appeal  from,  how  taken,  proceedings  thereon,  61. 

choice  of,  39. 

fees  to,  prohibited,  73. 

may  annul  certificates,  55. 

may  consolidate  schools,  when,  107. 

may  dismiss  teachers,  when,  59. 

may  excuse  child  from  attending  school,  when,  66. 

may  fix  time  and  place  to  organize  associate  district,  46. 

may  reserve  money  for  printing  report,  58. 

may  suspend  pupils,  when,  56. 

may  suspend  school,  when,  57. 

members  of,  ineligible  to  teach  public  school,  60. 

meetings  of,  53. 

no  special  district  meeting  without  consent  of,  when,  45. 

number  of,  increased  when,  39. 

officers  of,  53. 

power  of,  to  abate  tax  in  certain  cases,  50. 

to  approve  tax  for  erection  and  repairs  of  schoolhouses  in  joint 

districts,  50. 

to  change  text-books,  58. 
to  form  and  regulate  joint  school  districts,  47. 
when  districts  are  abolished,  39. 

schools  to  be  under  care  of,  38. 

to  apportion  money,  etc.,  when  district  divided,  48. 

to  approve  amount  of  tax  ordered  by  school  district,  43. 

to  approve  bond  of  collector  of  district  tax,  43. 

to  approve  organization  of  consolidated  district,  47. 

to  approve  plans  for  erection  and  repairs  of  schoolhouses,  43. 


INDEX.  131 

School  Committee,  to  draw  orders,  when,  47,  57. 
to  elect  superintendent  of  schools,  40. 
to  examine  teachers,  55. 
to  furnish  free  books  and  supplies,  58. 
to  have  care  of  schools  in  discontinued  districts,  44. 
to  have  entire  control  of  districts  abolished,  39. 
to  locate  schoolhouses,  54. 
to  make  apportionment,  when,  56. 
to  make  rules  and  regulations,  55. 
to  manage  schools  wholly,  when,  56. 

to  provide  for  attendance  of  children  in  adjoining  town  or  district,  56. 
to  provide  instruction  in  physiology,  etc.,  55. 
to  report  to  board  of  education,  70. 

to  commissioner,  5x. 

to  town,  58. 
to  visit  schools,  55. 

when  and  how  call  meeting  to  organize  district,  44. 
when  call  special  meeting  of  school  district,  45. 
when  may  exercise  powers  and  duties  of  district,  44. 

of  trustees,  52. 

when  to  organize  school  in  districts,  44. 
School  district,  a  body  corporate,  42. 

associate,  for  having  advanced  schools,  how  formed,  46. 

clerk,  collector,  treasurer  of,  duties,  powers  of,  43. 

consolidated,  how  formed,  47,  106. 

general  powers  of,  42. 

joint,  how  formed,  47. 

judgment  against,  how  satisfied,  62. 

legal  process  against,  how  may  be  served,  63. 

may  be"abolished,  38. 

may  build  and  repair  schoolhouses,  43. 

may  devolve  power  on  school  committee,  44. 

may  vote  a  tax,  43. 

meetings  of,  annual,  when  held,  how  notified,  44. 

for  organization,  how  notified,  46,  47. 

special,  how  called,  how  notified,  45. 
moderator  of,  may  administer  oath  to  other  officers,  43. 
officers  of,  43. 

evidence  of  engagement  of,  71. 

except  moderator,  in  what  form  to  be  engaged,  71. 


132  LAWS  PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION. 

School  district,  officers  of,  tenure  of  office  of,  72. 

providing  schoolhouses,  not  to  be  taxed  for  others,  :>>s. 

suits  against,  who  may  answer,  r>i>. 

trustees  of.     See  Trustees  of  School  Districts. 

what  powers  remain  to  discontinued,  39. 

when  divided,  property  of,  how  apportioned,  48. 

when  not  to  be  formed,  54. 
School  fund.    See  Permanent  School  Fund. 
Schoolhouses,  foreign  flags  not  to  be  raised  over,  96. 

how  provided  by  associate  districts,  46. 

how  supplied  with  furniture,  fixtures,  etc.,  38,  48. 

land  for,  how  condemned,  54. 

may  be  built  by  town,  38. 

nuisances  near,  prohibited,  72. 

to  be  in  custody  of  trustees,  when,  51. 

to  be  located  by  school  committee,  54. 
School  libraries,  power  of  town  to  vote  money  for,  17. 

State  appropriation  for  works  of  reference,  etc.,  for,  36. 
School  of  Design.    See  Rhode  Island  School  of  Design. 
School  officers  prohibited  from  taking  fees,  73. 

whHt  ones  are  ineligible  to  teach,  60,  114. 
School  property,  in  care  of  trustees,  51. 
Schools  aided  by  State,  to  be  visited  by  public  school  officers,  72. 

to  report  to  board  of  education,  33. 

consolidation  of  ungraded,  105. 

by  school  committee,  when,  107. 

provisions  against  forfeiture  of  State  aid  in  case  of,  106,  107. 

general  supervision  of,  vested  in  board  of  education,  31. 

high,  State  aid  for,  106. 

must  be  maintained,  38. 

private,  to  register  and  report  to  board  of  education,  33. 

scholars  may  attend,  in  another  district,  when,  57. 
in  another  town,  52,  56. 

school  committee  may  establish,  44. 

suspended  when,  57. 

time  of  opening  and  closing,  trustees  to  give  notice  of,  51. 

to  be  visited  by  committee,  55. 

ungraded,  may  be  consolidated,  105. 
School  supplies  furnished  at  expense  of  town  or  city,  58. 
Seal,  what  is  meant  by,  14. 


INDEX.  133 

Singular  number,  how  construed,  12. 

Soldiers  and  sailors,  children  of,  have  free  tuition  when,  73. 

Special  district  meetings,  how  called,  45. 

illegal  when,  45. 
State  Home  and  School  for  Children,  84. 

board  of  control  of,  how  appointed,  85. 
how  constituted,  84. 
secretary  of,  duties  and  term  of  office  of,  85. 

to  have  compensation,  85. 
to  establish  system  of  management,  85. 
to  keep  register  of  children,  88. 
to  report  to  board  of  education,  88. 
to  receive  what  children,  85. 
control  and  maintenance  of,  vested  in  whom,  84. 
establishment  of,  84. 
object  of,  86. 

what  children  may  be  sent  from  State  almshouse  to,  87. 
State  school  money,  how  apportioned,  36. 
Statutes,  construction  of,  12. 
.     repeal  of,  effect  of,  14. 
special,  to  prevail,  74. 
take  effect  when,  14. 
Studies  in  schools,  how  prescribed,  55. 
Submission  by  agreement  to  school  commissioner,  61. 
Successors  in  office,  retiring  officers  to  deliver  official  possessions  to,  15. 

what  officers  continue  in  office  till  qualification  of,  72. 
Suit  against  district  may  be  answered  by  whom,  62. 
Superintendent  of  schools,  compensation  of,  40. 
duties  of,  40. 
howr  elected,  40. 

Supreme  court,  justices  of,  to  hear  and  decide  on  school  appeals,  when,  61. 
Surety  for  costs  not  to  be  given  by  truant  officer,  70. 
Surplus  of  tax  sale  returned  to  owner,  26. 
Suspension  of  pupils  by  school  committee,  56. 


Tax,  abated  when  and  how,  50. 

certified  lists  of  persons  paying,  to  be  furnished  when  and  by  whom, 

10. 
collected,  from  real  or  personal  estate,  24. 


134  LAWS   PERTAINING  TO   EDUCATION. 

Tax,  compensation  of  assessors,  collectors  of,  etc.,  20. 

deductions  from,  when,  29. 

for  free  public  libraries,  what  and  when,  17. 

general  provisions  concerning,  2!>. 

lien  on  real  estate,  how  long,  23,  24. 

limitation  of,  18. 

may  be  voted  by  school  district,  43. 

of  joint  district,  how  approved,  50. 

penalty  for  non-payment  of,  26,  29. 

proposition  to  impose,  who  not  permitted  to  vote  on,  7. 

school  district,  collection  of,  30,  43. 

to  be  assessed  by  trustees,  51. 

to  qualify  persons  to  vote,  8,  9. 

town  to  raise  by,  for  schools,  amount  equal  to  State  appropriation,  36. 
Taxation,  property  liable  to,  and  exempt  from,  20,  21. 
Tax  collector  to  furnish  certificates  of  taxpayers,  10. 
Tax  sale,  notice  of,  given  owner  and  others  interested,  24,  25. 

redeemable,  when,  25. 

vests  what  title,  25. 
Teachers,  59. 

certificates  to,  by  State  Board  of  Education,  107. 
by  trustees  of  normal  school,  64. 
duty  of  school  committee  to  examine,  55,  59. 
may  be  dismissed,  when,  59. 
must  have  what  qualifications,  59,  107. 
retirement  funds  for,  102,  109.    ' 

school  district  neglecting  to  employ,  school  committee  may  employ,  44. 
State  appropriation  for  schools  to  be  applied  to  wages  of,  36. 
to  be  hired  by  trustee,  when,  51. 
to  have  certificate  of  qualification,  when,  59,  107. 
to  impart  what  moral  instruction,  60. 
to  keep  record  of  pupils  vaccinated,  74. 
to  keep  registers  and  make  reports,  60. ' 
what  school  officers  ineligible  as,  60,  114. 
Teachers'  certificates,  how  long  valid,  59. 
Teachers'  Institutes,  appropriation  for,  how  expended,  64. 
Teachers'  money,  drawn  on  order  of  commissioner,  36. 
forfeiture  of,  36. 

State  appropriation  to  be  denominated,  36. 
what,  and  how  used,  36. 


INDEX.  135 

Tenure  of  office,  of  board  of  control  of  State  Home  and  School,  85. 

of  board  of  managers  of  It.  I.  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic 
Arts,  76. 

of  commissioner  of  public  schools,  34. 

of  school  committee,  39. 

of  school  district  officers,  72. 

of  State  board  of  education,  31. 

of  trustees  of  K.  I.  Institute  for  the  Deaf,  82. 
Text=books,  may  be  changed,  how,  58. 

how  in  Providence,  58. 

receiving  or  offering  fees  for  exchange  of,  forbidden,  73. 

school  committee  to  place  in  school  rules  for  use  of,  55. 

to  be  furnished  at  expense  of  town  or  city,  58. 
Thanksgiving  Day,  appointment  of,  as  legal  holiday,  92,  100. 
Time,  how  computed,  13. 
Title  vested  by  tax  sale,  25. 
Town,  how  construed,  13. 

entitled  to  what  part  of  State  appropriation  for  schools,  36. 

entitled  to  State  aid  for  providing  high  school  facilities,  106. 

may  abolish  districts,  38. 

may  be  divided  into  districts,  38. 

may  build  schoolhouses,  38. 

may  consolidate  schools,  105. 

may  establish  and  maintain  free  public  libraries,  17. 

may  vote  money  for  free  library  not  its  own,  17. 

may  vote  money  for  schools,  17. 

power  of,  to  assess  ratable  property,  limited ;  exceptions,  18. 
to  incur  debt,  limited ;  exceptions,  18. 

powers  and  duties  of,  relative  to  schools,  16,  38. 

to  make  appropriation  for  free  public  library,  19. 

to  maintain  schools,  38. 
Town  assessors  to  give  notice,  49. 

when  to  aid  in  levy  of  district  taxes,  49. 
Town  clerk,  how  construed,  13. 

to  furnish  certificate  of  records,  9. 

to  furnish  registry  list,  9. 

to  record  district  boundaries,  41. 

to  take  school  census,  41. 
Town  collector  may  collect  district  taxes,  43. 
Town  council,  how  construed,  13. 


136  LAWS  PERTAINING   TO   EDUCATION. 

Town  council,  penalty  for  neglect  of,  to  appoint  officers  or  make  ordi- 
nances under  truant  law,  70. 
to  appoint  special  constables  under  truant  law,  66. 

to  elect  board  of  trustees  of  free  public  library,  19. 
to  fill  vacancy  in  school  committee,  40. 

to  make  ordinances,  etc.,  concerning  truants,  69. 
Town  or  city  council  may  receipt  for  gift  of  free  library,  19. 
Town  sergeant,  how  construed,  13. 
Town  treasurer,  construction  of  words,  13. 

custodian  of,  all  school  money,  40. 

duties  of,  in  receiving  and  paying  school  moneys,  40. 

to  make  statement  to  committee,  41. 

to  report  to  school  commissioner,  41. 

Travelling  expenses  of  pupils  in  Normal  school,  money  for,  64,  10.0. 
Treasurer  of  school  district,  election,  powers,  etc.,  43. 
Truant  children  and  attendance  at  school,  65,  112. 
Truant  officers,  duties  of,  67. 

how  appointed,  66. 

to  demand  names  of  children  employed,  68. 

to  visit  all  places  employing  children,  68. 
Truant  ordinances  to  be  made,  69. 
Truants,  district  courts  have  jurisdiction  of,  70. 

may  be  committed  to  suitable  places  of  instruction,  69. 

may  be  discharged,  when,  69. 
Trustees  of  free  public  library,  divided  into  classes,  19. 

elected  by  town  council,  19. 

to  have  charge  of  library,  19. 

vacancies  in,  how  filled,  19. 
Trustees  of  R.  I.  Institute  for  the  Deaf,  how  appointed,  82. 

how  constituted,  82. 

to  report  to  assembly,  84. 
Trustees  of  Rhode  Island  Normal  School,  how  constituted,  63. 

may  contract  with  school  committee  of  city  of  Providence,  113. 

may  give  certificates  of  qualification,  64. 
Trustees  of  school  districts,  51. 

appeals  from  decisions  of,  how  taken,  and  proceedings,  61. 

election  of,  43,  .97. 

how  call  meetings  of  districts,  44,  45. 

how  engaged,  71. 

ineligible  to  teach  in  public  schools,  60,  114. 


INDEX.  137 

Trustees  of  school  districts  may  allow  pupils  from  out  of  town  to  at- 
tend, 52. 

of  associate  districts,  how  appointed,  46. 

to  employ  teacher,  51. 

to  have  custody  of  schoolhouse,  51. 

to  have  no  pay  save  from  district  funds,  52. 

to  make  out  tax  bills,  51. 

to  make  returns  to  school  committee,  51. 

to  provide  cases  for  schoolbooks,  51. 

to  provide  school  facilities,  51. 

to  visit  schools,  51. 

when  determine  place  of  meeting,  45. 

when  may  be  chosen  separately,  97. 
Tuition  money,  how  to  be  used,  52. 

United  States,  includes  what,  13. 
Unregistered  voters,  7. 

Vacancy  in  board  of  managers  for  college  of  agriculture,  how  filled,  76. 

in  office  of  trustee  of  free  public  library,  how  filled,  19. 

in  school  committee,  how  filled,  40. 

in  school  district  officers,  how  filled,  43. 

in  State  board  of  education,  how  filled,  31. 
Vacation  in  public  schools,  children  employed  during,  67. 
Vaccination,  compulsory,  as  a  prerequisite  to  enter  school,  14. 
Violation  of  laws  relative  to  public  schools,  penalties  on,  74. 
Voluntary  associations,  how  formed,  92-94. 
Voters,  classified,  6. 

in  school  districts,  qualifications  of,  45. 

lists  of,  furnished  by  clerks,  9. 

rights  and  qualifications  of,  6. 
Vote  to  levy  tax  final,  when,  61. 

Ward  clerk,  how  construed,  1:5. 
Warrant  of  distress,  how  to  issue,  28. 

to  collect,  in  force  till  tax  collected,  28. 
Washington's  birthday,  to  be  legal  holiday,  92,  100. 
Words,  construction  of,  in  statutes,  12-14.     See  Construction. 

Year,  how  construed,  13. 

18 


YC  06582 


